Shuttlers must not overreact: Official

Shuttlers must not overreact: Official

JAKARTA (JP): National shuttlers should not blow their
problems over their contracts out of proportion, a Badminton
Association of Indonesia official said yesterday.

Rudy Hartono, who is also a representative of the
International Badminton Federation, told The Jakarta Post that
the players and the association must have a give-and-take
relationship.

"The players should not just take from us but also give. They
mustn't consider only their interests; if there's a problem they
always blame the association," he said.

A reliable source said earlier that most players have yet to
receive their three-month collective contract money from Yonex, a
Japanese sports equipment company, and their prize money from
recent international tournaments.

They protested to the association by not attending the New
Year's party at the house of the association's chairman,
Soerjadi.

"I personally think that their way of protesting was
unethical. They were getting emotional and opted to challenge the
association. They could have come to us to solve the problem,"
Rudy said.

"They are allowed to protest but they should not humiliate the
chairman like that. It was unethical," he added.

"We always disclose the details of the contracts and the
amount to the players," he said.

Rudy, eight-time All England champion, said that he could not
believe the rumors that a player had sold a house to finance
their wedding.

"Is it true that the person had to sell the house? What kind
of wedding party is it that needs Rp 50 to Rp 100 million? It
must be a big modern party," he said.

Rudy said that the association has done all it can only for
the sake of the shuttlers.

"They have to realize that the association does not take even
one cent from their contract," he said.

The source said that 25 percent of the contract goes to the
association and the players keep the rest.

Rudy said that the association senior officials, including
treasurer Purnomosidi who just returned from abroad, are to meet
today to discuss the problem.

"We hope to be able to solve the problem and then we'll have a
meeting with all the players. But if they are still abroad taking
part in tournament, I think we'd better wait until they all
gather, probably in early February," he said.

The association is also to have a meeting tomorrow with Yonex,
to finalize a new contract for the players from 1997 to 1999,
which should be signed next week.

"We are still negotiating the figures but it will be between
US$1.2 million and $1.6 million per year," Rudy said. (yan)