Pelti appoints Tintus, Suharyadi as coaches
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) named Tintus Ariwibowo and Suharyadi coach of the men's and women's teams, respectively, for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei next month, despite a recent altercation between Suharyadi and fellow coach Deddy Prasetyo.
Pelti spokesman Benny Mailili told The Jakarta Post on Monday that Tintus, a former nonplaying captain of the Davis Cup team, would coach Suwandi, Febi Widhiyanto, Hendri Susilo Pramono and Yusmawan Fahmi, while Suharyadi would coach Wynne Prakusya, Liza Andriyani, Romana Tedjakusuma and Wukirasih Sawondari.
"We submitted the two coaches' names and the names of eight key players to the National Sports Council today. The selection has received the approval of the secretary-general himself," he said.
The eight players were chosen through a national selection. The men's selection took place from June 23 to June 26 in a round-robin competition, while the women's selection ran from June 30 to July 3.
The two coaches were appointed prior to a physical attack by Suharyadi on Deddy at Pelti's office in the Senayan tennis complex.
Deddy said the incident began when Suharyadi asked him to explain why two players he was coaching, Febi and Hendri, did not sign a form stating they would obey all rules during the training program for the SEA Games.
One of the rules stipulates players must live in a dormitory provided by Pelti.
"I don't know anything about it. I haven't talked to Febi or Hendri about their refusal (to sign the form)," Dedy said, adding that Suharyadi also insulted him during the fight.
"He hit me in the face and pulled my hair," Deddy said, adding that he would bring the incident to the attention of Pelti officials before seeking any sort of legal settlement.
Suharyadi said the attack was a "man-to-man" affair and had nothing to do with Febi and Hendri.
"As a human being, it is normal if I get emotional," said the husband of former tennis star Yayuk Basuki
Separately, Indonesia's long-standing partnership of Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo won the men's doubles final at the Men's Indonesian Fertilizer Future 3. The duo defeated Rik De Voest of South Africa and Marcel Du Courdray of Mauritius.
Bonit and Sulistyo won 6-4, 6-0 in the US$15,000 tournament final on Monday. The organizers were forced to delay the match at the Kemayoran Tennis Center due to heavy rain in the afternoon.
In the singles final on Sunday, second seeded Vadim Kutsenko defeated South African Willem Peter Meyer 6-2, 6-2.
In the Future 4 qualification, Febi upset second seeded Anand Radhakrishna of India 6-1, 6-4. Febi will face Japanese Jaime Higa, who beat local player Firman Fauzi 6-0, 6-0.
Hendri defeated junior Ferly Montolalu 6-2, 6-1. Eighth seeded Hendri will challenge ninth seeded Jeffrey Viskovich of Australia on Tuesday. Viskovich beat Indonesian Marlo Santoso 6-4, 6-2, while Djanuar Radjab had to work hard to overcome newcomer Wisnu Wijaya 7-6 (7-4), 6-2. Djanuar will challenge top seeded Blake Brinklow of Australia, who defeated Briton Matthew Hanlin 6-2, 6- 1.(ivy/yan)