PBSI sends shuttlers to Thailand Open
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After a no-show at two badminton Grand Prix tournaments in Europe, cash-strapped Indonesia has pledged to field a 23-strong team at the US$30,000 Thailand Open in Bangkok early next month.
Earlier this month, the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) pulled its shuttlers from the Dutch Open and German Open, each offering $50,000 in cash prizes.
PBSI also reduced the number of players taking part in the just-concluded $250,000 Danish Open.
Indonesia will field a team comprising mostly second-stringers and junior shuttlers at Bangkok.
"We want to give our junior shuttlers more international exposure. They may not win any titles but have to get through this phase," training director at the Indonesian Badminton Center (PBI), Christian Hadinata, told The Jakarta Post by phone.
Christian also called on badminton fans in the country to understand that sending juniors was part of their own preparation for world-class competitions.
"Playing in international events gives them a chance of taking on world-class shuttlers and learning something," he said.
Budi Santoso is the most senior shuttler in the men's singles event. He will be accompanied by juniors Soni Dwi Kuncoro, Ardiansyah, Markis Kido and Wiempie Mahardi.
Meanwhile, second-stringer Atu Rosalina and junior Dewi Tira are in the women's singles.
Christian admitted that PBSI could send only two women's singles players due to financial limitations.
There are some senior men's doubles players in the team, but they will change partners following the early retirement of Tony Gunawan from the Indonesian Badminton Center.
Tony's gold medal-winning partner in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Candra Wijaya, will team up with Halim Heryanto. Meanwhile, Sigit Budiarto will play in tandem with Luluk Hadianto.
Also competing are second-stringers Ronne Rontolalu and Imam Sodikin, and juniors Alven Yulianto and Hendra Gunawan.
Emma Ermawaty will partner Eny Widiowati in the women's doubles. Yunita Tetty is paired with Monica, Eny Erlangga with Jo Novita and Lita Nurlita is teamed up with Endang Nursugianti.
PBSI has named eight pairs for the mixed doubles. Budi will be paired with Emma, Ronne with Eny Widiowati, Imam with Lina Marlina, Hendra with Lita, Alven with Yunita, Candra with Jo, Halim with Endang and Sigit with Eny Erlangga.
Commenting on the Danish Open, Christian could not hide his disappointment at Indonesia's poor performance.
Indonesia won only one title, by Tri Kusheryanto and Emma Ermawati in the mixed doubles, after defeating the English pair of Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms 7-5, 7-1, 7-4.
Other Indonesian pairs reached either the semifinals or quarterfinals. Christian rued the most below-par performance of men's singles player Marlev Mainaky and women's singles Lidya Djaelawidjaya, who were both sent packing in the first round by unknown shuttlers.
"We could have accepted defeat if it had been inflicted by shuttlers in the same league or better," Christian said.
Marlev was taken out 8-6, 0-7, 7-3, 7-0 by Indonesian-born George Rimarcdi who is now playing for Sweden, while Lidya was defeated 7-1, 7-2, 7-2 by Dutch qualifier Jie Yao.