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)