PBSI sends warning letter to Mia Audina

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), for the first time in its history, has issued a warning letter to one of its shuttlers. PBSI sent the letter to number one women's singles Mia Audina on April 7 for undisciplined behavior.

PBSI chairman, Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, said on Wednesday that he had yet to decide on a sanction for the 19-year-old shuttler and would wait for her to return from the Netherlands.

Coach Liang Chiusia said earlier that Mia had asked for permission to stay in the Netherlands after competing in the All England championships to marry Surinamese boyfriend Tylio Lobman last month.

But PBSI deputy in charge of athletes development, Hadi Nasri, denied the allegation, saying Mia did not ask for permission prior to her departure for the All England.

"She didn't say a word to officials here. She just said to her coach that she would get married. If she had asked for permission, we wouldn't have said no," he said.

With only a month to go to the Sudirman Cup and the World Championships in Copenhagen next month, Mia has yet to show up at the National Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, for training.

Hadi said PBSI had yet to name the team members for the Sudirman Cup and still had no idea whether Mia would be ready to compete in two major events in two consecutive weeks.

He also said PBSI would still observe Mia's form in several tournaments.

"If she doesn't show any commitment to the sport and has poor form, there's nothing else we can do but have her sent out of the center," he said in a telephone interview.

In a meeting between PBSI officials and coaches, Chiusia said she had to train Mia at least for a month.

"Mia must show up at the center, at least by April 7, which is today. But she is still not here," Hadi said.

Separately, Mia's father, Rivan Tjiptawan, said he was waiting to receive the letter from the association.

"I support PBSI's decision to send the letter because of Mia's undisciplined behavior. But I think the All England team manager, Hadi Nasri, must also be sent a letter," he said.

Rivan urged PBSI to start looking for Mia if the association wanted to save the shuttler from damaging her career.

Rivan's relationship with his younger daughter was on bad footing in 1997, before Mia met Lobman. He was against Mia's marriage, saying that Lobman was not the right man for his daughter. (yan)