PBSI must recruit young men's doubles talent, coaches say
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)