RI shuttlers set to make clean sweep at SEAG

RI shuttlers set to make clean sweep at SEAG

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will strive hard to make a clean sweep
of the seven gold medals up for grabs in the badminton tournament
at next year's 19th SEA Games.

At the last two Games, in Singapore in 1993 and Chiang Mai,
Thailand, last year, the Indonesian shuttlers swept up six of the
seven golds at stake, only missing out on the men's doubles
title, which, on those two occasions, went to Malaysia.

"We lost in both men's doubles finals to Malaysia. But next
year, there is no way Malaysia can steal one gold from us,"
national coach Indra Gunawan said yesterday.

In Chiang Mai, Indonesia's formidable men's doubles tandem of
Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagya went down to Malaysia's Cheang
Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock. In Singapore, once again it was Soon
Kit partnering with Soo Beng Kiang who prevented Indonesia from
sweeping all seven titles by beating Ricky and Rexy in a nerve-
tingling final.

However, Indra expressed concern about the fading performances
of the country's top men's singles players.

"We cannot continue to bank on such old warriors as Joko
Supriyanto, Ardy Wiranata, Heryanto Arbi or Alan Budikusuma all
the time because their performances have begun to decline due to
age.

"But we have a set of younger players capable of taking over
the baton from their seniors. So, in all probability, our SEA
Games squad will be a mixture of experience and youth," he said

Indra said the Badminton Association of Indonesia always
stressed the important need of regeneration process of players.

"So, if some national players are already past their prime,
their juniors are ready to take over the mantle."

Indonesia is grooming 16 men's and eight women's shuttlers for
the next SEA Games, which will be held in Jakarta.

Indra said some of the players would be fielded in two
international invitationals, the Grand Prix Finals in Denpasar,
Bali, and the World Cup in Jakarta. Both are to be held next
month. (bas)