Shuttlers must 'be professionals'

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia deputy chairman, Agus Wirahadikusumah, has urged players to behave professionally in their daily activities.

"As professional shuttlers, they must be disciplined in training, dieting and resting. They must realize that they have to sacrifice their youth due to their tight training and competition schedule," he said on Saturday.

Agus was commenting on Indonesia's men's doubles player Sigit Budiarto, who had to be hospitalized at the Graha Medika hospital, West Jakarta, for typhoid.

"Maybe he was not really well while competing at the Singapore Open (in August) and bought food from street stalls. Everybody, even athletes, can get sick, it's normal."

"Sigit must have stronger self-control. He should avoid youthful temptations like hanging out at night. Players can't be like other youths who often go to cafes or discotheques. If they really want to do so once or twice a month, I can understand that but not everyday," Agus said.

Agus said that shuttlers must be independent on and off the courts.

"Don't be too dependent on mothers or girlfriends or boyfriends. If they don't show up during a match, the players lose their fighting spirit. It's so childish," he said.

Agus said the association would use the Indonesia Open championships in October as the final preparation for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20.

"The National Sports Council has approved for us to use the championships as a final tryout. Our shuttlers will, hopefully, reach their peak performance at the Asiad," he said.

The council expects shuttlers to win two gold medals but National Badminton Center director Christian Hadinata hoped to win four golds, from the men's team, the men's doubles, the women's singles and the mixed doubles.

In the 1994 Asiad in Hiroshima, Japan, Indonesia won three golds.

"I won't give targets to our shuttlers because they'll be over burdened. There are nontechnical factors outside the courts. if we fail, we'll grieve," he said.

The association is to send three girls and 10 boys to the World Badminton Junior Championships in Melbourne, Australia, from Oct. 6 to Oct. 11.

Coach Kurniahu said he only hoped his athletes would learn from the championships.

"It's really hard to win because juniors from China, Taipei, South Korea and Denmark are very good. Our athletes must work really hard to beat them," he said. (yan)