Senior shuttlers must be allowed to turn pro: Susi
JAKARTA (JP): World number two Susi Susanti called yesterday for the Badminton Association of Indonesia to change its policy and let senior shuttlers turn professional.
"It will be good if the association lets us become independent pro players with authority to have our own sponsors," she said.
"If we're purely professional, we can decide which tournaments to compete in even if it means we have to finance our trips ourselves," the 1992 Olympic gold medalist said.
Susi said Indonesian tennis player Yayuk Basuki, world ranked 23rd, had become a great success story after she turned professional years ago.
"If our association lets us turn pro like the tennis association did with Yayuk, we'd definitely agree with the decision."
She was responding to a statement made by State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman, who said Tuesday that badminton players should be allowed to become professional.
Susi said that professionals could still train with junior players at the badminton center in Cipayung, East Java.
The association is grooming nearly 80 senior and junior shuttlers at the center. Training programs for seniors and juniors are the same.
The association also arranges the collective sponsorship from companies, including sports equipment company Yonex.
"The association only needs to focus its attention in grooming the juniors and give them more chances to compete abroad," she said.
"The association should also learn from the past not dump the senior players if they do not win anymore."
Some Indonesian players -- including Fung Permadi, who now represents Chinese Taipei, Yuni Kartika and Yuliani Sentosa -- were dismissed from the training center due to their underachievements.
"When Fung could not win anymore while he was at the center, the association dumped him. But when he found success in Taipei, people accused him of being unpatriotic," she said.
"If I was also dumped by the association and if I was offered to play in another country, why not? I have the rights to earn money.
"The most important thing is that we still compete for the country in major events including the Asian Games and the Olympics."
The association is to stage a national congress from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 here, at which its new officials will be elected.
Three people have been nominated for the chairmanship. They are Deputy Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Syafrie Syamsuddin, and the current chairman Surjadi.
Former association deputy Justian Suhandinata said the new chairman should improve the organization's structure.
"The new officials must improve the organizational system, especially the long-term training program. We can't expect to have a new champion in three years unless we have a continuous program for about 10 years," said Justian, who is also deputy president of the International Badminton Federation.
"The officials must also improve their competence in staging international events, especially outside Jakarta. We always have problems like blackouts and leaking roofs. In the future, we have to prove that Indonesia can't only have good players but also stage prestigious events," he said.
GP Finals
Indonesia will host the Lipton World Grand Prix Finals at the Senayan Indoor Stadium from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14.
The finals, which will offer US$380,000, up from $350,000 last year, will feature 16 men's singles, 12 women's singles, and eight pairs in each of the three doubles events.
Defending champion Susi will probably face her toughest challenge from Chinese shuttlers Ye Zhaoying and Gong Zhichao and Dane Camilla Martin.
"I'll try my best to win my seventh title in the finals," she said.
World men's number one Peter Gade Christensen will have to overcome finalist Sun Jun and world number two Dong Jiong, both of China, compatriot Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist, and world number five Hariyanto Arbi of Indonesia.
Defending champion Fung is now world ranked 17th and so doubtful for the tournament. (yan)