PBSI protests ABC for no RI referee

PBSI protests ABC for no RI referee

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
sent on Tuesday a letter to the Asian Badminton Confederation
(ABC) protesting the absence of Indonesian referees for the
Sudirman Cup and World Championship in Seville, Spain.

"The PBSI has protested against the ABC's decision to nominate
referees from Asia for the International Badminton Federation
without any Indonesian names on it," PBSI secretary general Leo
Chandra Winata told reporters at his office.

"The decision reflects the position of some parties that
consider Indonesia as a second class badminton nation that has no
real contribution to the badminton world," he added citing the
letter which was addressed to ABC's secretary general Punch
Gunalan of Malaysia.

Leo said he was confused about why ABC decided not to include
any Indonesian referee on the nomination list.

"I have been told that it was because we don't have enough
international referees but that's absurd because we have only
asked for one Indonesian referee to be nominated," he said.

"Another reason is that they think Indonesia has no chance of
reaching any real achievement in both events which is irrelevant
to the referees nomination," he added.

Leo also said the PBSI would react sternly if there were no
Indonesian referees appointed for both events.

"I cannot reveal what kind of reaction will be taken by the
PBSI as we are awaiting a response from the ABC. We expect ABC to
give our letter some consideration soon since we are still at the
nomination stage and no-one has been officially appointed yet,"
he said.

"If they fail to do so, we will have to wait because I believe
they will reconsider the nomination." (nvn)