Shuttlers prioritize the Olympics, not PON

Shuttlers prioritize the Olympics, not PON

JAKARTA (JP): Veteran shuttler Rexy Mainaky said Tuesday he
would put aside his desire to perform in the 15th National Games
(PON) in Surabaya in June for the country's bigger priority to
retain the gold medal tradition in badminton at the Olympic Games
in Sydney in September.

"I personally still want to compete in PON but the Badminton
Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has decided to ban Olympic
qualifiers from playing in the event. We must obey the decision,"
said the 1996 Olympics gold medalists with partner Ricky Subagja.

Tony Gunawan, the world number one pair with Candra, said the
Olympics remained the top priority in his program although he
personally wants to compete in PON from June 19 to June 30.

"Competing in PON feels different compared to the Grand Prix
series as we are facing our compatriots and have nothing to lose.
In the series, we are not allowed to lose to other countries'
doubles. Besides it's for our province's pride," said Tony, who
is from East Java.

While women's singles Ellen Angelina, representing Central
Java, said she opted to prioritize the Olympics above PON.

"It's OK for me to skip PON as I have more time to prepare
myself for the remaining Grand Prix series and the Olympics."

Women's doubles specialist Cynthia Tuwankotta, who represents
Jakarta, said: "Actually I want to play in PON. However, the ban
is for our benefit to enable us prepare better for the Olympics."

Rexy said PON would be more interesting if all national
shuttlers could perform because the public want to see their
idols on courts.

"But the decision has been made. I don't want to blame the
West Java chapter for registering the Olympic qualifiers to PON
but what about other provincial chapters?"

"If East Java, which has one gold medal in hand from mixed
doubles Tri Kusheryanto and Minarti Timur, can put aside its own
benefit due to the Olympics priority, why can't West Java?"

On Monday, chairman of the PBSI West Java chapter Lutfi Hamid
questioned the decision to ban the athletes from competing in
PON.

He insisted that participation in PON would not disturb the
shuttlers preparation for the Olympics and PBSI officials must
not worry about the possibility shuttlers might get injured
during the quadrennial event.

West Java registered Ricky, Rexy, Candra Wijaya, Halim
Heryanto, Flandy Limpele, Marlev Mainaky, George Rimarcdi and
Taufik Hidayat in the men's side and Emma Ermawati, Elysa
Nathanael, Indarti Issoliana, Yuli Marfuah and Lidya
Djaelawidjaja in the women's side. Eight of them are Olympic
qualifiers.

Rexy also expressed concern over the possibility of protests
from other chapters due to the West Java chapter action.

"I'm afraid other chapters will protest our participation in
PON while they did not register their Olympic qualifiers. If the
protest remains on PBSI it's OK. But what about the public who
will feel disappointed. They may do something that might damage
the image of sports," he said.

Tony rejected the possibility that competing in PON could
disturb his training program.

"PON will definitely not disturb our preparation for three big
tournaments of the Indonesia Open, Malaysia Open and Singapore
Open prior to the Olympics," he said.

"The more competition we have the better for us to reach our
peak prior to the Olympics."

Rexy expressed concern that PON should be the perfect event to
boost young shuttlers performance in a multi-sports event.

"If they can handle the pressure of competing in PON, then
PBSI has more stock to field players in a higher level including
the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Olympics."
(yan)