PBSI requests KONI to provide firness equipment

PBSI requests KONI to provide firness equipment

JAKARTA (JP): In preparation for the Thomas and Uber Cups in
Kuala Lumpur in May and the Olympic Games in Sydney in September,
the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has requested the
National Sports Council (KONI) provide fitness equipment.

The association's official in charge of research and
development, Tahir Djide, asked KONI to purchase a leg-press
machine.

Tahir, who was speaking on Monday in his capacity as a
physical trainer, said the association still had time to use the
machine to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games, to be held
from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1.

"As a physical trainer, I know that 87 percent of badminton
movement is based on leg power. The leg-press machine is to boost
their knee and hip power. Based on my experience, many athletes
have been injured during leg training without the machine."

Meanwhile, men's singles coach Agus Dwi Santoso complained
about the lack of facilities available to the association to make
video recordings of other countries' players in major
championships.

"PBSI only has one video camera. When we competed in the All
England and Swiss Open, the camera was broken and we couldn't
record any world class shuttlers' performances," he complained.

"We have five groups of disciplines; men's singles, women's
singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. One
camera can't cover all important matches, especially in big
tournaments."

The meeting, which was organized by KONI, was attended by
deputy national centralized training director Imron ZS, KONI
official in charge of foreign affairs Indra Kartasasmita, PBSI
executive director Karsono, PBSI official in charge of athlete
development Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar, motivator Andri Wongso
and psychologists Enoch Markum, Rosa and Juanita.

Imron said the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) had
two leg-press machines and offered use of them to the association
until KONI could afford to buy a new one. He also said that KONI
would purchase video cameras soon to enable shuttlers to study
their rivals' forms.

Tahir said athletes lack of muscle strength, as stated by
training director Christian Hadinata last week, could be improved
by using various training methods, including plyometrics.

"Our athletes don't have any problems with their
cardiovascular endurance but they lack muscle endurance. Their
physical fitness still needs to be improved. Most of our athletes
are in training. Whoever has better preparation will win the
match. That's why PBSI must prepare them better for three major
events this year," he said.

Speaking on the situation at the Indonesian Badminton Center
in Cipayung, East Jakarta, Imron said that athletes, coaches and
officials met to discuss their weaknesses and tried to create a
conducive situation prior to the Thomas and Uber Cups, which will
be held from May 11 to May 21.

The players' board chairman, Rexy Mainaky, said that officials
acknowledged they had yet to work optimally while shuttlers
promised to do their best in international tournaments.

"The meeting was not to condemn each other but to solve our
problems. Due to my statement earlier, athletes, coaches and
officials could discuss the existing problems in order to seek
solutions. We need an amiable situation without any prejudice to
prepare ourselves better," he said. (yan)