PBSI to call 20 juniors for national training

PBSI to call 20 juniors for national training

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): The Badminton Association
of Indonesia (PBSI) will be grooming juniors in its Indonesian
Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta as it needs capable
second stringers to replace the seniors.

The center's training director Christian Hadinata told The
Jakarta Post, on the sidelines of the just-concluded Interclub
National Badminton Championship, that the composition of players
would be completely different from the previous program.

"Previously, we had about 60 senior shuttlers without any
juniors. Now we will select 40 seniors and 20 juniors to be
groomed at the center," he said.

"We need to focus our development program on the juniors for
the long-term. So far we have only given them short-term
preparations, prior to certain big international events abroad."

PBSI has been concerned over its lack of young talents to face
other countries, especially China.

In the World Junior Championships in Guangzhou, China, the
host shuttlers swept all five titles. Four of five finals were
Chinese-dominated and Sonny Dwi Kuncoro was the only Indonesian
finalist in the boys' singles event. Sonny is also the Asian
Junior Championships finalist.

With the return of former Indonesian coach Tong Sin Fu to
China, the country has regained its domination in the sport by
producing an All England winner in Xia Xuanze and an Olympics
gold medalist in Ji Xinpeng.

The center's junior coach Joko Supriyanto said the inclusion
of juniors was a part of the organizer's regeneration program.

"Juniors were selected through a series of national circuits.
It's also important to ensure that the shuttlers selected, apart
from their achievements and age, are psychological balanced," he
said.

PBSI secretary-general, Leo Chandra Wiranata, said he had the
list of names of selected senior players but was waiting until
the juniors' final test results are announced.

"We'll have a meeting on Thursday to determine who are the
senior shuttlers to be selected. The juniors will still have to
undergo several tests next Monday."

Dian Novita from Central Java expressed her hope of being
admitted to the center, considering her achievements in the
National Junior Championships held in conjunction with the
interclub event last week.

"I wish I would be admitted to the center. Once I am in the
center, I will find a style of playing that will suit me. It must
be a combination of rally and attack," said the girl's singles
champion.

Women's singles Lydia Djaelawidjaja was optimistic that PBSI
would admit her to the center despite her declining form last
year.

"If they look at my ranking, I'm sure I'll be in the list. If
PBSI still believes in me, I'll improve my form this year and
also my world ranking," she told the Post.

"I am planning to play badminton for about two more years.
After that, I may get married."

Speaking on Indonesia's women shuttlers' poor performance,
Christian said it would take a long time to have a strong team of
women shuttlers.

"Our biggest disadvantage is their physique that prohibits
them from competing against taller shuttlers from other
countries."

"That's why the Sudirman Cup mixed team is not our top
priority. We'll just try to stay in the main group."

Earlier, PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo declared that the
association would not prioritize the Sudirman Cup in this year's
program but instead concentrate on the World Championships. (nvn)