PBSI tells sponsore to pay up in bonus row
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)