PBSI not to expel Taufik, says executive director

PBSI not to expel Taufik, says executive director

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
executive director, Karsono, gave his word on Friday that the
association would not expel its men's singles player Taufik
Hidayat from the Indonesian Badminton Center after the young
shuttler's controversial statement last week.

Karsono, who also chairs the clarification team for Taufik's
statement, told reporters that the association preferred to solve
the problem in a harmonious way.

"PBSI will not expel Taufik as he is an asset of the country
and the association. We just regret the miscommunication between
the PBSI officials and the players. Taufik has never complained
of anything personally to us," he told a press conference after a
closed meeting with the team members.

The team will call Taufik, who is currently competing in the
invitational Ipoh Masters in Malaysia, on Wednesday at 1.00 p.m.

"The meeting is to clarify if Taufik really made those
statements. We also want to know his reasons for saying them to
the press instead of us."

After his victory at the Asian Badminton Championships Sunday,
Taufik urged PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiwoyo to step down. He
also expressed his disappointment to other officials due to the
late receipt of sponsorship contract money from Yonex and of the
tournaments' prize money.

Taufik accused PBSI officials of not fully committing to their
jobs as they failed to constrain discipline among athletes at the
center's dormitory.

He also said the officials were too afraid to warn top
athletes even though they made mistakes or broke the dormitory
rules, including staying out late.

Responding to Taufik's statement, Karsono said that even
without calls from the players, Subagyo would definitely step
down from his post at next year's national congress.

"Pak Subagyo even wants to move the congress forward as he
wants to finish his tenure soon. But he must wait for another
year as the congress will take place in December."

Karsono added that officials had worked hard to put discipline
into the athletes' daily lives.

"Starting from Jan. 20, 2001 -- after the national
championships and the annual congress in Banjarmasin, South
Kalimantan -- none of the athletes, coaches and officials can act
carelessly. We will introduce harder discipline than exists these
days," he said.

Karsono also said that Subagyo did not react after reading
Taufik's statements on the newspapers.

"But as an executive director of PBSI, I felt insulted by his
statements as it's not the first time (they have been made). We
have kept silent for so long. This time we have to take action."
(yan)