Retno Kustijah resigns from badminton center

Retno Kustijah resigns from badminton center

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's women's singles coach Retno Kustijah
officially resigned from the National Badminton Center on Monday.
Retno said she resigned because she wanted to focus more of her
attention on her club, Jaya Raya, where she felt more needed.

"I think the club needs me more than the center. However, I
have brought my players to the international stage," she said in
a telephone interview.

Retno, better known as Kus, once coached the 1996 Olympic
silver medalist Mia Audina, world No. 7 Cindana Hartono and a
newcomer, Yuli Marfuah.

Since Mia and Cindana joined the 1998 Uber Cup team, Retno had
only three athletes; they are juniors Yeni Dyah, Melissa Dewi and
Yuli.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) decided early
this month to expel both Yeni and Melissa due to their stagnant
achievements in international junior events.

But Yuli was promoted to the seniors, under supervision of
coach Liang Chiusia, due to her victory in the 1999 Singapore
satellite.

Yuli herself was shocked by the decision.

"I was really shocked when Mbak Kus told me on Saturday that
she wouldn't coach me anymore starting today. I was really sad, I
miss her. All this time she has taken me to the Ragunan sports
school to spar with Jaya Raya men's singles," she said.

A source said Retno was unsatisfied with the training system
in the center as she had only three athletes while Chiusia had
five. The source also said Retno had just one court to practice
on while Chiusia had three.

During the Uber Cup team preparations, Retno had to take her
three athletes to Ragunan as they were not allowed to practice at
the center.

"Some people complimented her, saying she was creative, but I
think it's a way to send her out from the center nicely," the
source said.

Retno, who partnered with Minarni to win the 1962 and 1966
Asian Games gold medals, said she had handed her resignation
letter to center training director Christian Hadinata on
Saturday.

"I told Christian that I was sorry to leave the center and I
had written the letter on March 31, but I kept delaying my
intention to resign. Now I think it's the right time," said
Retno, who along with Minarni won Indonesia's first women's
doubles title in the 1968 All England competition. Retno's
assistant, Lany, also resigned following Retno's decision.

But Christian denied that he had received a resignation letter
from Retno.

"She didn't tell me she would resign. She only said she wanted
to concentrate on her club. I told her to make an official
resignation to the chairman," he said.

PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata also said he had
not yet received a resignation letter.

Meanwhile, PBSI plans to send 29 athletes to the Malaysia Open
in Kelantan from June 30 to July 4. They are men's singles Jeffer
Rosobin, Johan Hadikusuma, Rony Agustinus, Indra Wijaya and
women's singles Meiluawati, Cindana and Yuli Marfuah.

Men's doubles Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan, Flandy Limpele/Eng
Hian, Denny Kantono/Antonius, Halim Heryanto/Imam Tohari and
women's doubles Elysa Nathanael/Deyana Lomban and Cynthia
Tuwankotta/Etty Tantri will also take part in the event.

PBSI plans to field mixed doubles specialists Bambang
Suprianto/Tri Kusherjanto in the men's doubles and Zelin
Resiana/Minarti Timur in the women's doubles despite their
specialty in the mixed.

Jeffer, Rony, Johan, Indra, Ellen, Meiluawati and Yuli will
directly head to Bangkok for the Thailand Open from July 7 to
July 11.

Men's doubles Hermono/Ade Lukas, Endra Mulyajaya/Hadi Saputra,
Halim Heryanto/Wahyu Agung, women's doubles Elysa/Deyana,
Angelina de Pauw/Vita Marissa and mixed doubles Wahyu Agung/Emma
Ermawati, Imam/Vita will join them in Bangkok.

Both tournaments are to be used for warming up before the 20th
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam from Aug. 7 to
Aug. 15.(yan)