PBSI puts players through night training

PBSI puts players through night training

JAKARTA (JP): In an effort to improve sagging player
performance in international events, the Badminton Association of
Indonesia (PBSI) has introduced training sessions at night.

National training director Christian Hadinata said on Tuesday
that the measure, which began on Tuesday, was intended to put
shuttlers into a routine to compete at night.

"Like it or not, athletes often compete in the evening in a
tournament. They must get used to the conditions."

Christian said the night sessions would increase the frequency
of training. Three days a week athletes will undergo physical
training in the morning, stroke training in the afternoon and
technical training until 9 p.m.

"This system will be applied continuously. We formerly used
the method but we had to change it because the training hall was
so windy," he said. The hall was renovated two months ago to
limit the wind problem.

Speaking on the demands of international play, Christian said
during May's Sudirman Cup and World Championships in Copenhagen,
matches started at 2 p.m. local time, or 7 p.m. West Indonesia
Time.

Some shuttlers complained about the new schedule.

Men's doubles specialist Tony Gunawan said that its
introduction disrupted preparations for the Malaysia Open in
Kelantan from June 30 to July 4.

"We will compete in two weeks and we still have to adapt to
the new method. I think it's too close to the competition. But I
don't mind having the night training. Probably it's better for us
to try it first."

Tony was disturbed that the new measure apparently indicated
PBSI's focus on the poor Indonesian showing in Copenhagen. It
lost in the Sudirman Cup semifinals and no Indonesian advanced
past the quarterfinals in the World Championships.

"I feel our success before the Sudirman Cup and World
Championships is no longer considered. They (PBSI) only think of
our failure. I think we had better evaluate and correct our
weaknesses," he said.

PBSI also holds morning pep meetings every Monday and Thursday
before regular training.

Tony said he did not mind the meetings. "I don't have any
problems. It's the consequence of our failure."

Men's singles Budi Santoso said: "It's good to give us
responsibility because we will be punished if we miss the
meeting."

Women's singles Yuli Marfuah was less enthusiastic.

"Twice a week is too much. Those of who have families and
don't live in the dormitory often skip the meeting because they
live far from here."

PBSI also plans to change its organizational structure at the
training center. Christian, who oversees five coaches in the
men's and women's singles and men's, women's and mixed doubles,
will also return to his former post as the men's doubles coach.

"But Christian also will remain as the director. He will also
supervise the men's and women's singles and mixed doubles," said
PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata.

Tangkas club coach Hendry Saputra will likely take the overall
responsibility for singles while PBSI has yet to decide who will
be in charge of the doubles.(yan)