Players welcome decision to continue training in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Junior badminton players and coach are happy with the Badminton Association of Indonesia's decision to cancel plans to shift their training programs to clubs and provincial badminton centers.

Irwansyah, the 1997 Poland men's singles semifinalist, said yesterday that he preferred to be coached at the National Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, than anywhere else.

"In the national center, we have top shuttlers as models and practice partners. It gives us better motivation to improve our skills and technique," said Irwansyah, who has been out of the sport for five months with a back injury.

"In clubs or provincial centers, I think our practice partners would not be as good as they are here", he said.

Women's singles coach Retno Kustiyah told The Jakarta Post that the change in plans would benefit the players.

"If the association maintains centralized training, the players can consult the coach more easily. They will also get more chances to compete abroad and get more attention from their coaches," Retno said.

The association announced Monday that it had reversed its plan to transfer 15 players away from the center, deciding instead to retain the 65 players who currently train at the center.

When the association first announced its plan to send athletes to clubs and provincial centers last month, six players resigned in protest.

The three senior players who parted company with the association are Alan Budikusuma, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist, and Hermawan Susanto and Ardy B. Wiranata, who both now plan to coach in America. Three junior players, Dwi Aryanto, Agus Heriyanto and Salim, also resigned. They will now play in Germany, Hong Kong and Brunei Darussalam respectively.

Under the regime run at the national center, junior players train twice a week with senior players. However, this week's All England championships in Birmingham, England, and the Thomas and Uber Cups to be held in Hong Kong in May, have meant that practice sessions with the seniors can only be carried out once a week.

"If the players have to practice in clubs and provincial centers, facilities on offer may not be as good and communication with coaches will be impeded," Retno said.

Women's singles player Cindana expressed the same sentiments.

"If all players train here, we have more competition which will boost our determination to be the best in the business," she said.

Cindana said she had decided not to compete in the All England championships this year due to a poor performance in the Japan Open earlier in the year, where she only reached the second round. (yan)