PBSI won't prioritize Sudirman Cup mixed team event

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): In light of the poor performance of its women's shuttlers over the past few years, the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has decided not to make the Sudirman Cup mixed team event its top priority this year.

Instead, the body wants its shuttlers to focus on the individual events in the World Championships in Seville, Spain, in May.

"It is not because we do not want to defend the Cup or because we consider the event as being less important, but we must be realistic about our own strengths, especially on the women's side," PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said on Saturday after the organization's national working meeting being held here in conjunction with the Inter-Club National Badminton Championships.

"Relying only on the men's singles and doubles and mixed doubles is too risky if we want to win the Cup. It will be more effective if we let our best shuttlers concentrate on the World Championships individual events."

The Sudirman Cup -- named after the former PBSI chairman of the 1950s to the early 1980s -- was staged for the first time in Jakarta in 1989, with Indonesia winning the inaugural event. But since 1991, the Cup has remained in China.

In the 1999 event in Copenhagen, Indonesia failed to reach the final for the first time since the Cup began. It was beaten by host Denmark in the semifinals.

"The priority will be not to let the Cup slip out of our hands. But again we must be realistic. Look at the women's singles and doubles world rankings, which are dominated by Chinese shuttlers," Subagyo said.

"Our best women's singles player, Lydia Djaelawidjaja, failed to perform her best here while the women's pair of Deyana Lomban and Carmelita still have not proven themselves."

The meeting also resulted in the decision that PBSI will shift control of regional training camps to its provincial chapters.

"The decision will enable the chapters to manage the day-to- day operations and directly control the camps," said Subagyo.

"The camps will accommodate shuttlers from local clubs and they will not be allowed to become clubs themselves. The shuttlers are allowed to play for their own clubs in national events."

PBSI also reached the decision to organize clinics for local coaches.

"The chapters also can send their shuttlers to well- established clubs in Java to improve their skills," said Subagyo. "Such a mechanism is a good way to overcome the difficulties of finding good practice partners and coaches."

He also said shuttlers would be allowed to leave their original clubs for larger ones.

"It is normal that they would want to have better lives and careers," he said. (nvn)