Shuttlers accept new training plan
JAKARTA (JP): National shuttlers have finally agreed to the decision of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) to change the training system at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.
PBSI's players board chairman Rexy Mainaky told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that all shuttlers met PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo in a meeting on Monday.
"Pak Bagyo explained to us that changes in the training system were needed as a part of our strategy to achieve our goals in the Thomas and Uber cups and the Olympics next year. This is not a final decision. PBSI will observe if the players can adapt to the new system. Maybe in 2001 PBSI will set up another new system to achieve a different target," he said.
PBSI plans to halve the number of shuttlers in the center in January to focus the top players on retaining the Thomas Cup for men and bringing home the Uber Cup for women, and winning the Olympics men's singles and men's doubles gold medals in Sydney in September.
Thirty-two of 66 shuttlers will remain in the center while the other 34 will be sent to PBSI's four provincial chapters in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java and East Java.
"We all can understand Pak Bagyo's explanation. We specially asked him to meet us because we don't believe in other PBSI officials anymore," said Rexy, who won the 1996 Olympics gold medal with partner Ricky Subagja.
The players board vice chairman Hendrawan said PBSI would observe the shuttlers' form in the center for the next three months.
"PBSI can consider either to move on or stop the new program if the players feel dissatisfied with the condition in those chapters," he said.
PBSI official in charge of athletes development Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar said that the association discussed with three chapters and they approved preparing the new system by April at the latest.
Speaking after a meeting with officials from Jakarta, West Java and East Java chapters on Monday, Siregar said they made four decisions.
"The first is that all chapters agree to conduct the decision on applying the new system. Secondly, we all agree that we need several months to promote the new system, especially to players to avoid them feeling they have been expelled from the center.
"Third, fielding the players in some chapters is meant to groom young talented athletes in our provincial chapters. They can be promoted to join the center if they can win national tournaments. On the other hand, players in the center can be moved to the chapters if their performance declines.
"The fourth is shuttlers in the center will compete in the four, five and six star tournaments while players in the chapters are scheduled to compete in the one, two and three star tournaments."
Speaking on team managers for the Thomas and Uber cups and the Olympics, Rexy said the players board submitted a couple of names to Subagyo.
"We told him that we don't want other names than the two we submitted above. We don't trust other officials and we doubt the ability of others to be team managers," said Rexy, who declined to mention the players' picks. (yan)