RI team manager uses underdog tag to inspire
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Even though there is little hope riding on the women's players, they should be motivated enough to beat the pretournament billings at the next Sudirman Cup mixed badminton championship, saidteam manager Christian Hadinata on Thursday.
The 18-strong team played a simulation match against a group of noncompeting players on Thursday ahead of their departure to the world's championship, which will be staged in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, from March 18 through March 23.
While the men's players maintain hopes of contributing points to the team, women's team players are facing the grim prospect of going up against the likes of China, South Korea and Denmark.
However, Christian, who is also the director of the Cipayung Training Center in East Jakarta, tried to boost the players' morale by hinting that there could be possible benefits from being underestimated.
"They should beat the odds that are stacked against them. They should be motivated. They should be geared up to prove that they can do their best for the team," he said when contacted by The Jakarta Post here on Thursday.
Christian said the simulation matches would help the players detect their weak spots and improve them within the space of less than a week.
On the team is Taufik Hidayat, who is still nursing his nagging ligament injury he sustained during the 2001 World Championship in Seville, Spain.
The injury haunted the 21-year-old star as it cost him dearly at the recent All England where he crashed out in the opening stage.
"We have put Taufik on the list submitted to the Sudirman Cup committee last week. He is undergoing therapy and I hope he will recover in time," Christian said.
The team has two more options in the men's singles as it will also have Asian champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Budi Santoso.
Meanwhile, the Sudirman Cup organizing committee confirmed that 51 nations would join the championship with an overall 581 players.
Indonesia is drawn against European leading teams Denmark and England in Pool B of Group 1. Pool A groups reigning champion China, South Korea and Thailand.
The top two teams of each group will proceed to the semifinals, while the team that comes in third place will be pitted against the teams of Group 2 in the playoffs.
Indonesia won the biennial Sudirman Cup, which is named after its badminton figure, when it was played for the first time in Jakarta in 1989.
The trophy has eluded Indonesia since then, with Korea capturing the top spot in the following two games and China triumphing in the last four.
The team players vying for the Sudirman Cup: Taufik Hidayat, Budi Santoso, Sony Dwi Kuncoro (men's singles); Candra Wijaya, Sigit Budiarto, Halim Haryanto, Luluk Hadiyanto, Alven Yulianto (men's doubles); Tri Kusharyanto, Nova Widianto, Vita Marissa, Emma Ermawati, (mixed doubles); Dewi Tira Arisandi, Maria Kristin (women's singles); Jo Novita, Lita Nurlita, Eny Erlangga and Lilyana Natsir (women's doubles).