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)