PBSI must recruit young men's doubles talent, coaches say
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's domination of the international men's doubles badminton scene is in jeopardy with the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) having difficulties recruiting new talent to be second stringers at its training center.
"We have three of the world's strongest men's doubles partnerships but we are lacking second string players to continue our future domination," junior doubles coach Sigit Pamungkas told The Jakarta Post on Thursday at the Indonesian Badminton Center (PBI).
"It's very important to prepare younger men's doubles players, especially to continue our tradition of Olympic gold during the 2004 Athens Olympics," he said.
Indonesia has three strong doubles pairs in world champions Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto, 1997 world champions Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, and the world's sixth-ranked pair Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian.
Men's doubles coach Herry Imam Pierngadi echoed the concern, saying that PBI would need at least six young pairs to back up the seniors.
"Ideally, each senior pair is covered by two younger pairs. We won't have any threat in the next two years but we must continue recruiting young shuttlers to contend the 2004 Olympics," Herry told the Post during a gathering at Tangkas Bogasari club to greet world champion Hendrawan.
"I will directly recommend talented juniors to join the center to boost their skills by training with the seniors," he said.
Herry said that he has selected Alven Yulianto Chandra and Hendra Gunawan to train with the seniors.
Indonesia has been a dominating force in men's doubles badminton, most notably since Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky claimed the world number one post in 1993 and then took the 1996 Olympic gold.
Their domination was advanced when Candra and Sigit claimed the 1997 world championship and then Candra and Tony took the 2000 Olympic gold.
Sigit Pamungkas said eight potential young players would be recruited to the center following his assessment at the recently concluded Milo Indonesian Junior Open in Surakarta, Central Java.
"PBSI must admit them now in order to maintain the domination. We hope the young players will manage to reach their peak form for the Athens Olympics.
"PBSI also has to recruit the under-16 girl's doubles players for long-term preparation. It's important for PBSI to evaluate the shuttlers' individual performances instead of as a pair. It's more advantageous to recruit individually," Sigit said.
PBSI will send its juniors to compete at the Asian Junior Championships in Taipei from July 8 to July 14 and aims to gain a finals berth.
Ardiansyah, Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Markis Kido of PBI, and Andika Pradana Wicaksana of West Java will play in the boy's singles, while Silvi Antarini, Dewi Tira and Ricasari of PBI, and Lilyana Natsir of Tangkas Bogasari will play in the girl's singles.
Endang Nursugianti and Lita Nurlita, Monica and Devi Sukma, and Rani Mundiasti and Lina Marlina will compete in the girls doubles.
PBSI must recruit shuttlers from clubs for the boys doubles -- Titon Gustaman and Rian Sukmawan of West Java, Hendra Setiawan and Joko Riyadi of Jaya Raya, and Gordon Ruben and Devin Lahardi of Djarum Kudus -- since it has no under-19 shuttlers for the event.
The mixed doubles will comprise of Titon and Lita, Devin and Endang, Gordon and Devi, Hendra and Lina, Rian and Monica, and Joko and Rani. (nvn)