PBSI sends shuttlers to Thailand Open

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.