PBSI urged to include Taufik in SEA Games team
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)