RI won't send sick athletes to England
RI won't send sick athletes to England
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia will not
send sick or unprepared athletes to the All England Badminton
Championships, according to men's doubles coach Atik Djauhari.
Atik said yesterday that Denny Kantono, who usually partners
Antonius in the third men's doubles would not compete at the
annual event in Birmingham, England, which runs from March 11 to
March 15, because he had influenza.
"It's impossible to expect Denny to recover in less than one
week. We prefer to replace him with Eng Hian, who usually
partners Hermono," he said. "Although Antonius has never
partnered Eng Hian in a tournament before but I'm sure they can
gel well."
The association decided last week to replace world champion
Sigit Budiarto, who usually partners Candra Wijaya, with Tony
Gunawan due to Sigit having a problematic ulcer.
"Sigit has recovered but he has a toothache now," Atik said.
Candra/Tony are competing at the Swedish Open from March 4 to
March 8 before joining the national squad in Birmingham.
The association has been preparing Hariyanto Arbi, Budi
Santoso, Indra Wijaya, Hendrawan and Ardy B. Wiranata in the
men's singles and Susi Susanti, Mia Audina and Meiluawati in the
women's singles.
Candra/Tony, Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky and Antonius/Eng Hian
will compete in the men's doubles, Elyza/Zelin Resiana, Deyana
Lomban/Indarti Issoliana in the women's doubles and Bambang
Supriyanto/Risyeu Rosalina and Tri Kusharjanto/Minarti Timur in
the mixed doubles.
Three managers, Indra Gunawan, Imelda Wiguna and Atik
Djauhari, will accompany the athletes, who leave for the
championships tomorrow.
The association's athletes development director, Mangombar
Ferdinand Siregar, said that the All England would be the best
test of other countries' strength for the Thomas and Uber Cup
championships in Hong Kong in May.
Hariyanto, seeded sixth at the All England, said that he hoped
to reach the final and saw Danish and Chinese shuttlers as his
toughest rivals. He only reached last year's semifinals.
"China's Sun Jun and Dong Jiong and Dane Poul-Erik Hoyer-
Larsen will be my toughest rivals at the championships," said
Hariyanto, who aims to win his third title at the event.
Men's doubles player Rexy said that he and Ricky hoped to win
their third title.
"It will be a great moment for me if I can win this year
before I retire," he said, declining to mention when this might
be.
The association's chairman, Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo, expressed
his hope that the shuttlers would evaluate their failures in
previous tournaments to ensure perfect performances at the All
England.
"We can't lose because of unforced errors, it's better if we
lose because our opponents are better," said Subagyo, who is also
the Army Chief of Staff.
Subagyo said the association was working on internal
regulations at the National Badminton Center in Cipayung to deal
with undisciplined athletes' punishment.
"The regulations will also be applied when athletes compete in
tournaments under the supervision of team managers and coaches,"
he said.
Subagyo said the association hoped Japanese sports equipment
manufacturer and main sponsor Yonex would pay its contract in
U.S. dollars due to the association's need to send athletes to
tournaments abroad.
Yonex has a US$1 million annual contract with the association
and hands over $250,000 every quarter. (yan)