Shuttlers must 'be professionals'

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)