PBSI urged to include Taufik in SEA Games team

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) urged the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) to include men's singles Taufik Hidayat in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games team to compete in Brunei Darussalam next month.

"We have difficulties earning gold in Brunei. If our shuttlers can make a clean sweep of seven golds, why should they only target five golds?" said KONI official in charge of athletes development, Mochammad Hindarto, on Tuesday.

PBSI has targeted five golds from the women's singles and doubles team, and the mixed doubles and men's doubles events.

Hindarto said if PBSI sent Taufik, Indonesia had a chance to make a clean sweep of the golds, as the 19-year-old shuttler stood a good chance of winning the men's singles and men's team events.

PBSI has registered Jeffer Rosobin, Ronny Agustinus, Johan Hadikusuma, Flandy Limpele, Eng Hian, Halim Heryanto, Imam Tohari and Agung Wahyu in the men's team. Cindana, Ellen Angelina, Lidya Djaelawidjaja, Yuli Marfuah, Etty Tantri, Cynthia Tuwankotta, Emma Ermawati and Vita Marissa are registered in the women's team.

PBSI official in charge of athletes development, Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar, told The Jakarta Post that Taufik needed to take a break after his poor performance in the Sudirman Cup and World Championships. Taufik was blamed for his below-standard form against Denmark's Peter Gade Christensen in the Sudirman Cup semifinals, which Indonesia lost 2-3 to the host.

"Taufik is focusing on the Olympics, along with Hendrawan and Budi Santoso. PBSI has a big responsibility to win gold at the Olympics.

"We'll see how he manages to overcome his psychological barrier after both major events in the Indonesia Open in September in Bali," Siregar said.

He said even if Taufik would perform at the Games, he might not win easily, because Malaysia would field the 1998 Commonwealth Games champion Wong Choon Han, who lost to Luo Yigang of China in the Malaysia Open last week.

"Malaysia is very strong in the men's singles and doubles. Don't even underestimate Thailand, because its women's singles, Sujitra Eakmongkolpaisarn, is also good."

Siregar said despite the strong opposition, PBSI was looking to repeat its clean sweep of two years ago.

"But we shouldn't be careless, because we have priorities in the Olympics and the Thomas and Uber Cup championships."

He said he would evaluate shuttlers' performances in the Malaysia Open and the ongoing Thailand Open.

"The evaluation will be reported to KONI, at the latest, on July 8, two days prior to the deadline. I'm also worried about our men's singles performances, but I'll wait for reports from the coaches."

At the Malaysia Open, Indonesia won one title from Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan, the 1999 All England champions, who beat compatriots Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian. (ivy/yan)