Squash coach unhappy with Malaysian practice partner

JAKARTA (JP): National squash coach Bambang Gatot Subroto has expressed disappointment about the Malaysian sparring partner appointed to assist the men's team during its preparation for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month.

Bambang said on Thursday Aaron Shauza, who is currently ranked eighth in Malaysia, did not meet the standards of Indonesia's players.

"I thought earlier that he had skills commensurate with my players. But the fact is proving the opposite. Even our substitute, Abdul Manaf, could beat him. I don't know whether my players have been improving very fast or our guest is incapable," he said.

Bambang said Malaysia's top players should be much faster than Shauza. Malaysia will send its top four players to the biennial event to be held from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

"Shauza is slower than our players," he said.

Donny Manik, a member of the national team, said he defeated the Malaysian in two out of three games.

Bambang said the secretary-general of the Indonesian Squash Association (PSI), Henry Soepani, had appointed Shauza after an proposal was made by officials of Malaysia's association of technical and sport development.

Bambang said he would suggest the PSI organize an early return for the Malaysian player.

"I won't complain. I think our players have improved. It seems the Malaysian was unable to contest our players," he said.

PSI earlier requested the Malaysian player to train with the national team until the end of July.

"I have to improve their speed. I think our players have reached their top form now, and I should try to maintain their condition until they compete in the SEA Games," Bambang said.

He said Pakistan's Asaz Azmat was initially proposed by PSI as a sparring partner, however Asaz world ranked in the 30s, was scheduled to attend a local tournament in order to improve his ranking.

"The tournament was prestigious for the Pakistani. He would be sorry if he skipped the tournament, so he refused our offer."

Indonesia is preparing Johnny Supardi, Nuryanto, Dony Manik and Manaf for the event.

PSI had planned to send the four athletes for an overseas training session in Hong Kong, but canceled the plan due to financial problems.

Bambang named Singapore and Malaysia as its strongest rivals at the event. But Singaporean Peter Hill looks set to miss the event, because he requested an exorbitant HK$250 per training hour if Singapore wished to field him. (ivy)