Quest for victory drains national shuttlers: Icuk
Quest for victory drains national shuttlers: Icuk
JAKARTA (JP): "Exploitation" and no freedom of expression
could explain why Indonesian top shuttlers flopped in the just
concluded All England, according to Icuk Sugiarto.
The 1983 world champion told The Jakarta Post yesterday that
the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has, in a sense,
"exploited" them by fielding them too often in many tournaments
without giving them the option to say "no".
"There are too many tournaments out there. Like it or not,
they have to take part because they are taken for granted as
victory-bearing bonds. In order to say no, they have to be
seriously injured first," the former All England runner-up said.
"Such overexposure only makes it easier for their rivals to
spot their weaknesses and find effective ways to beat them," said
the 34-year-old manager of Pelita Jaya badminton club.
"For world top shuttlers like them, competition is like a hell
because they are expected to always win. The burden is too much.
I bet they would happily resign if PBSI would allow them to do
so," said the 1983 world champion.
But of the three things people learn in the Army, "Yes, sir.
No, sir. I don't know, sir," they have, according to Icuk, the
freedom to chant the first answer only.
"If you dare refuse, you risk having your house set on fire.
They will say you are unpatriotic, too egoistical. Compare this
to Germany, where Boris Becker can easily refuse to join his
country's Davis Cup team," Icuk said.
However, 1993 Southeast Asian Games women's singles champion
Sarwendah Kusumawardhani, told the Post yesterday that senior
shuttlers, like she herself once was, are expected to take part
in at least eight big tournaments but have the freedom to choose
which tournaments they want to compete in.
Participation in big tournaments is a chance to increase a
shuttler's points (and savings, too), which, in turn enhances
their chances of being sent to the Atlanta Olympic Games, said
the 28-year-old mother-to-be.
Icuk said one of his own experiences had led him to his
conclusion. Unable to say no, an exhausted Icuk was sent to the
12th SEA Games in Singapore in May 1983 about a week after
becoming the country's sports idol by beating compatriot Liem
Swie King in the 1983 world championship final. This proved
detrimental as Icuk easily fell prey to minnow home player Wong
Shoon Kiat.
Icuk said it would be wiser if PBSI focused on how to win the
Thomas Cup and Uber Cup championships slated for May 17 to 26 and
forgot about the Atlanta Olympic Games for the time being.
"A two-month recovery program for all our failed shuttlers
would restore them if the program was carried out in accordance
with the proposal. You know, many are good at developing
excellent proposals, but are good for nothing when applying
them." (arf)