RI shuttlers hope for greater percentage of sponsorship money
RI shuttlers hope for greater percentage of sponsorship money
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian badminton players have to bury their
dream of obtaining individual sponsorships as they are currently
only able to request a change in the contract money percentage
given to the players from the Badminton Association of Indonesia
(PBSI).
The chairman of the Players Board, Hendrawan, told reporters
on Tuesday, after a closed meeting with the PBSI chairman Subagyo
Hadisiswoyo and secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata, that so
far, collective sponsorship remains the best option.
"The August to October term of the 1996-2000 contract will be
divided based upon the old regulations as some players still
possess rights for the money."
"But we will improve the old system in contract money
percentage based on each discipline. The men's singles, men's
doubles and mixed doubles will all get more compared to the
women's singles and doubles as the first three disciplines all
managed to reach the final of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney," said
Hendrawan, accompanied by deputy Candra Wijaya.
"The second option is to refer to the world ranking list made
by the International Badminton Federation (IBF). During
preparation for the Olympics, many of the juniors' ranking were
upgraded to qualify them for the quadrennial event."
"Starting in the new three-month term from November 2000 to
January 2001, the PBSI will refer to the IBF ranking. They will
be divided into three categories; the top eight players, ranked
between nine and 16, and players outside the top 16."
"The PBSI will also change the term in order to evaluate the
athletes' form from once every three months to once every six
months. Our rankings won't drop drastically if the evaluation
takes place every three months."
Hendrawan said athletes would be prepared if the PBSI turned
down their suggestions.
"This is the best thing we can do right now. If players urge
for the professional system, they (officials) will remind us of
how we had to struggle in very beginning."
The 28-year-old badminton player expressed disappointment with
his juniors who were afraid about not receiving any sponsorship
money.
"We should be thinking about how to become world champions
rather than thinking about our contract money with sponsors. But
my juniors have started to think that they now deserve the money.
They should be thinking about how to fight hard in order to get
the money," said world number two Hendrawan, who only receives
US$4,000 and Rp 16 million quarterly.
The PBSI receives $1 million from the Japanese sports
equipment producer Yonex every year. Fifty percent of this deal
goes to the PBSI while the other half is received by the players.
Players have called upon the PBSI to allow them to seek
individual sponsorships. They have also promised to allow the
PBSI to cut their income, but not by more than 50 percent.
They also complained about the one-sided deal which only
allows companies who can offer more than $300,000 to get the co-
sponsorship deal.
Former world champion Joko Suprianto, who is coaching the
juniors, said that the 50 percent cut of the athletes' contract
reflects the lack of effort that the PBSI officials are making in
actively looking for co-sponsors.
"If they work well, I still believe we can gain more
sponsors."
Subagyo argued that the PBSI has been in negotiations with
national carrier Garuda Indonesia but has yet to reach a deal.
"In principal, we don't mind athletes obtaining co-sponsors.
If the PBSI can earn from sponsorship deals, 50 percent of the
money will go to us. But if players can obtain sponsorship, they
will receive 75 percent while we only earn 25 percent." (yan)