PBSI sets special team for Uber Cup semifinal match

PBSI sets special team for Uber Cup semifinal match

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
demonstrated its desire to reach the Uber Cup finals by
establishing a special team of coaches, PBSI officials,
psychologists, a professional motivator, masseurs and medical
doctors to support its shuttlers.

PBSI official in charge of athlete development, Mangombar
Ferdinand Siregar, told reporters that the point of the special
team was to raise the motivation of the shuttlers ahead of the
Uber Cup semifinals in New Delhi from Feb. 16 to Feb. 20. At
stake is a place in the Cup finals in May in Kuala Lumpur.

"It's time for our female athletes to ask themselves whether
they really want to fight for the country. It's time for them to
leave their period of failure and start a new chapter in their
lives."

"Both coaches and athletes must have the mental strength to
overcome the problems which are halting their success. They must
implement their training on the court. It concerns their
motivation."

"Their play reflects the effectiveness of their training and
their personal motivation," he said.

PBSI has recruited motivator Andrie Wongso and psychologists
Enoch Markum, Rosa and Yuanita to help raise the athletes'
motivation ahead of the Uber Cup semifinals.

Indonesia's women shuttlers -- singles players Cindana
Hartono, Lidya Djaelawidjaja, Ellen Angelina and Niniek Masrikah,
and the doubles pairings of Elysa Nathanael and Deyana Lomban,
Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta, and Carmelita and Indarti
Issolina -- have seen their performances steadily sink over the
last year. This string of bad play culminated in last week's
Chinese Taipei Open, where four women's singles players bowed out
in the first round.

Training director Christian Hadinata said PBSI wanted its
athletes to improve their motivation after their recent failures.

"The shuttlers must be able to fulfill the target of reaching
the Uber Cup finals. If they fail, it will be a black mark on
national badminton as Indonesia has always reached the finals,"
he said.

Top seed Indonesia is in the same Asia zone group as Chinese
Taipei, Hong Kong and the winner of group B -- either India,
Zambia or Sri Lanka. The other zone group includes Japan, South
Korea, Thailand and the winner of group A -- either Australia,
Singapore or Pakistan.

The top three finishers in the zone will go on to the Cup
finals. The Europe zone semifinals will take place in Bulgaria at
the same time as the Asia zone semifinals.

Indonesia has brought home the Uber Cup title three times --
in 1975, 1994 and 1996.

Christian, who is the team manager for the Cup semifinals,
said athletes had begun to train with official Yonex
shuttlecocks.

"For players, the shuttlecock is very important because they
must be able to adjust to it," he said.

PBSI will stage an evaluation where coaches, particularly
those in charge of the women shuttlers, are expected to describe
their training programs. Christian will be accompanied to the
evaluation by psychologists, well-known physical trainer Tahir
Djidem, Siregar and Andrie.

"Coaches must accept criticism and suggestions during the
meeting. They will not be allowed to become angry with the
critics. It's not only for the sake of PBSI but also for KONI and
the whole nation," Siregar said. KONI is the National Sports
Council.

PBSI will hold a match simulation on Feb. 4 at the Indonesian
Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, at around 4:00 p.m.
(yan)