Subagyo expects five SEAG badminton golds
JAKARTA (JP): Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, expressed optimism on Friday the national squad would be able to achieve its target of five golds at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month.
"We have prepared the players to be able to win five golds as expected by the National Sports Council (KONI). Today's simulation is a part of our preparations to boost shuttlers' motivation," he said after witnessing the simulation at the National Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.
"If we are urged to make a clean sweep of the seven golds, other participating countries will obtain nothing," he said.
At the last Games, Indonesian shuttlers proved unbeatable before a home crowd.
However, Subagyo said PBSI would not be careless to field second-rate shuttlers at the biennial event to be held from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.
"We hope the young shuttlers will learn something from the event to prepare themselves as the future hopes of Indonesia, and as a part of the regeneration process," he said.
PBSI staged the simulation between the SEA Games squad and their seniors as its final training session.
In the men's singles, only Taufik Hidayat triumphed over Hendrawan 12-15, 15-10, 15-8. Jeffer Rosobin, Ronny Agustinus and Johan Hadikusuma suffered defeats at the hands of their teammates.
In the men's doubles, Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian failed to overcome the veteran pairs of Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, losing 15-12, 13-15, 3-15.
The mixed doubles of Wahyu Agung/Emma Ermawati and Halim Heryanto/Indarti Issoliana also lost to their seniors.
PBSI official in charge of athletes development Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar said after the matches that he would discuss the simulation results with coaches on Monday.
"It doesn't matter if they lost here, because we hope they will win at the Games. But we have to improve in some areas, including the new partnership of Indarti and Halim who have never teamed up before," he said.
"For the men's doubles, I think Flandy and Eng Hian show less motivation compared to their seniors."
Siregar said Indonesia's men's shuttlers must watch out for the Malaysian players.
Men's singles coach Joko Suprianto said both Ronny and Jeffer had not performed to the best of their ability, because they were undergoing intensive training sessions after returning from the Malaysia and Thailand Open earlier this month.
He said this would be the perfect time for Taufik to learn from his upset at the Asian Games and Sudirman Cup.
"Taufik will become the team's backbone, but learning from past experiences, he will not be burdened with a (Games) target."
Malaysia will likely field Wong Choon Han, Roslin Hashim, Rashid Sidek and Yong Hock Kin. In the doubles, Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook will the toughest challengers for the Indonesians.
Joko said Indonesia's women's shuttlers should be able to pick up four golds from the individual, doubles, mixed and team events.
"Another gold will come from the men's event," he said.
Indonesia Open
Later on Friday, PBSI announced it would stage the US$150,000 Sanyo Indonesia Open in Denpasar from Sept. 1 to Sept. 5 at the Juana Manggala Stadium.
PBSI official in charge of tournaments and referee Juniarto Suhandinata, said as yet only Malaysia and Italy had confirmed their participation.
"Malaysia will send its top shuttlers, including Wong Choon Han, Ong Ewe Hock and defending champion Yong Hock Kin. I have spoken to Chinese team manager Bao Tong at the Sudirman Cup and World Championships in Copenhagen, and he promised to send the best players to Bali," he said.
Last year, the Chinese shuttlers canceled their participation at the event due to the political situation in the capital. PBSI selected Bali as an alternative destination for the five-star tournament, because Bali is known as the safest island in the country.
This year, PBSI hopes Denmark, England, South Korea, Japan and others will compete in the annual event. (yan)