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)