PBSI tells sponsore to pay up in bonus row

JAKARTA (JP): Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) vice chairman Agus Wirahadikusumah complained yesterday that the association had yet to receive a promised bonus from Sunrise and Co., Asia's main distributor for the Japanese-based sports equipment factory Yonex.

"I just signed a letter inquiring about their promise (bonus) two days ago, but they have yet to respond," he told reporters during the association's junior national selection.

Agus explained that the association's treasurer, Serian Wijatno, had sent a two previous letters but had not received a response.

"They have invited me to come to Singapore to negotiate about the bonus, but I refused," he said.

According to its contract with the company, the association should have received a US$60,000 bonus since its players had won several major tournaments, including the Malaysian Open, the Japan Open, the All England and the Thomas and Uber cup championships.

Sunrise and Co. also holds contracts with all the country's national players.

Serian said half the bonus had been transferred to the association's account, using an old rate of Rp 4,000 to the U.S. dollar.

"So we've received about Rp 120 million," Serian said, adding that he had forgotten the transfer date.

Agus said the association had agreed to lower the bonus payment's exchange rate to Rp 4,000 to the dollar from a previously agreed to Rp 5,000 rate during negotiations held with Sunrise and Co. at Hotel Mulia Senayan in May.

"In our latest letter, I urged them to stick to our agreement in May. I hope they keep their promise," he said.

Agus said he hoped the country's national players could earn financial winnings based in dollars from international tournaments.

"We hope our players can improve their skills at tournaments and also increase their income. Hopefully, shuttlers can make a living from badminton."

Indonesia plans to send 25 players to the JVC Asian Championships in Bangkok from Sept. 2 to Sept. 6.

The team's men's singles lineup consists of Jeffer Rosobin, Taufik Hidayat, Indra Wijaya, Marlev Mainaky and Hendrawan, while the women's singles are Mia Audina, Yuli Marfuah, Olivia and Cindana.

In men's doubles, Indonesia is fielding Eng Hian/Flandy Limpele, Tony Gunawan/Halim Haryanto and Ade Lukas/Harmono. The women's doubles are Elyza/Deyana Lomban, Indarti Issoliana/Carmelita and Angelina de Pauw/Vita Marisa. The team's mixed doubles are Zelin Resiana/Bambang Supriyanto, Tri Kusherjanto/Minarti Timur and Imam Tohari/Anastasia Rosalia.

Agus said the country's national players, who have been training at the National Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, must show improvement as the year progressed.

"The players will be justly rewarded (if they show improvement) or punished. The rewards would be that they can stay at the center and have the chance to compete abroad and the punishment would be that they would have to leave the center," he said.

Agus said that leaving the center, however, would not mean the end of the world for the players.

"If they want to coach or become practice partners in another country, the association will give them recommendations and help them look for sponsors," he said. "It's a part of our effort to socialize badminton in other countries." (yan)