Shuttlers 'need better future'

Shuttlers 'need better future'

JAKARTA (JP): The 1992 Olympic singles gold medalist Alan
Budikusuma has urged the Badminton Association of Indonesia to
start considering national shuttlers' future after they retire.

"The association should assist players if they want to
continue studying or start working. The association currently
does not care about players after they are dismissed from the
national training center," he told reporters yesterday.

Alan said his club, Djarum, had helped its shuttlers study or
find work for years.

"Players don't have to be worried about their futures. China
and South Korea also do the same thing," he said.

The 29-year-old player said all shuttlers in the center in
Cipayung, East Jakarta, were preparing themselves just in case
they are dismissed without notice by the association.

"It happened to Yuliani Sentosa and Yuni Kartika. It could
happen to all of us," said Alan.

Yuliani and Yuni were among the shuttlers dismissed by the
association last year due to their unimpressive performances in
international events.

The association plans to reduce the number of athletes being
groomed at the center from the current figure of 76 to around 50.

"I'm sure the association will reduce the number of players
after the Indonesian Open next month," he said.

Alan's wife Susi Susanti, also a 1992 Olympic gold medalist,
expressed concern over the reduction, especially in the women's
singles.

"We don't have enough women's singles players. If the
association wants to reduce the number, who will play?" she said.

Susi said Indonesia relied on herself and Mia Audina, the 1996
Olympic silver medalist, in the women's singles. China, by
comparison, has many more players.

"Last year, I still had Yuliani and Yuni as my backups,
besides Mia. But now, other second stringers have yet to perform
to their best ability," she said.

Cindana, Meluawati and Lydia Djaelawidjaja have not been
showing consistent form. Third stringers Yuli Marfuah and Ellen
still need time to gain more experience of playing in major
tournaments.

Susi, who attended the Sanyo World Cup Badminton Championship
press conference yesterday, is looking to win her first title of
the year and to retain her World Cup title.

The US$200,000 championship, which will be the last one staged
by the International Badminton Federation, will take place at the
Sasana Among Raga stadium in Yogyakarta from Aug. 20 to Aug. 24.

Joko Suprianto, Hariyanto Arbi, Indra Wijaya, Candra Wijaya,
Sigit Budiarto, Ricky Subadja, Rexy Mainaky, Tri Kusherjanto and
Imam Tohari will represent Indonesia in the men's sides.

Susi, Mia, Cindana, Eliza, Zelin Resiana, Indarti Isolina,
Deyana Lomban, Minarti Timur and Emma Ermawati will fight in the
women's competition.

China will send defending champion Dong Jiong, Sun Jun, Lou
Yigang, Ye Zhaoying, Gong Zhichao, Wang Chen, Ge Fei, Gu Jun, Qin
Yiyuan, Ton Yongshu. Liu Yong, Tao Xiaoqiang and Ge Cheng. (yan)