PBSI seeks definitive team for Thomas and Uber Cups
PBSI seeks definitive team for Thomas and Uber Cups
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After getting together for a scrimmage in Batam Island over
the weekend, the national badminton players for the Thomas Cup
and Uber Cup will be heading to Bandung for another round,
scheduled for April 17 and 18.
It will be the last scrimmage before the country's badminton
governing body PBSI forms the final lineup for the International
Badminton Federation's oldest competition, set to take place in
Jakarta in May, PBSI secretary general Lutfi Hamid said on
Friday.
PBSI has 12 players in each of the two categories and is
looking to unload two apiece for the championships.
There are five singles players for Thomas Cup lineup. While
Taufik Hidayat and Sony Dwi Kuncoro are already assured of their
places, Simon Santoso, Wimpie Mahardi and Taufiq Hidayat Akbar
are battling for the last two spots.
They could be challenged by Marlev Mainaky, a former national
player who is not on the shortlist but will be invited to the
scrimmage.
Lutfi, who is also the chef-de-mission for the championships,
said it was possible for Marlev to make the team.
"We are looking to ensure the third and fourth position for
the singles in both Thomas and Uber teams," he said.
The same circumstances also exist on the Uber Cup team, with
Yuli Marfuah and Lidya Djaelawidjaya, both invitees during the
Batam matches, being given a chance for a return to the team.
"If the former players can still play on an international
level, it is possible they could make the team," Lutfi said on
the sidelines of a ceremony announcing a cable TV service,
Kabelvision's, plan run live broadcasts of the Korean IBF Grand
Prix as well as the Japan Open.
The tentative list for the Uber Cup team consists of Silvi
Antarini, Maria Kristin, Adrianti Firdasari, Siti Mahiroh, Fitria
Firdaus, Fransisca Ratnasari, Jo Novita, Lita Nurlita, Eny
Erlangga, Lilyana Natsir, Greysia Polii and Heni Budiman.
According to Lutfi, PBSI will send only Taufik Hidayat to the
Korea event, to be held from March 29 to April 4, accompanied by
four doubles pairs: Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian, Luluk
Hadiyanto/Alven Yulianto, Candra Wijaya/Halim Haryanto and Sigit
Budiarto/Tri Kusharjanto.
Sony and Simon will play in the Japan Open, which, according
to Lutfi, would be a better field for both to tune up ahead of
the Thomas Cup.
Taufik Hidayat and women's singles player Silvi will also go
to the tournament, which will be held from April 5 to 11.