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.