RI shuttlers have chance to win the Cups
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian shuttlers have a 30 percent chance of winning the coveted Thomas Cup and Uber Cup trophies for being as hosts of the world team badminton championships finals, Vice President Try Sutrisno believes.
"If only you manage to maintain your composure, you will clear your way to capturing the trophies," Try said upon hosting a lunch for the Indonesian Thomas and Uber Cup teams at his residence on Jl. P. Diponegoro yesterday.
"I believe, anyway, that you know what you should do on the court," Try added. All national shuttlers currently undergoing the centralized training stint for the world team championships attended the lunch.
Top officials of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), including chairman Soerjadi, were all in attendance as well during an hour meeting with Try, the former two-time PBSI president.
Try asked the players to build teamwork among themselves as well as with their coaches and officials. "Keep in mind that you are not competing in an individual event," Try said. Citing an example, he insisted that training program should be arranged within discussions involving players, coaches or officials.
Try, however, warned the players of overconfidence, which could spoil their campaign. "Rival teams either from China, South Korea or Europe have taken as close a look at you as you have done at them," he said.
Save energy
The former chairman also urged the players to wisely save their energy during their matches. "Never demonstrate acrobatic strokes if they are not necessary," he stressed.
Indonesia has won the Thomas Cup for a record eight times, but not reached the heights in the last decade. The country captured its first ever Uber Cup title in 1975 at the Senayan indoor stadium, the venue for the May 10-21 finals.
The badminton players have been billeted at the Jakarta Hilton hotel since last Monday. They will move their regular workouts to the indoor stadium on Tuesday in an attempt to adapt themselves to the newly air-conditioned venue.
Fourth singles
Meanwhile, Alan Budikusuma's chances of making his third appearance in the Thomas Cup grew slimmer as he was rated only sixth in the latest world badminton rankings issued by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) yesterday.
The Olympic gold medalist was two places behind Hermawan Susanto, his rival in his race for the fourth singles place on the "dream-team." World champion Joko Suprianto, Olympic silver medalist Ardy Wiranata and All England champion Hariyanto Arbi, who are assured of slots, were ranked first, second and third respectively.
PBSI will announce the Indonesian Thomas Cup and Uber Cup lineups today. It has indicated that the IBF rankings are not the only standard for the decisions.
In the women's division, Susi Susanti preserved her lead and became the only Indonesian to be included in the world's top 10. China's Ye Zhaoying kept trailing in second spot, followed by South Korea's Bang Soo-hyun. (amd)