Sudirman Cup players protest tough training
JAKARTA (JP): With less than three weeks to the Sudirman Cup and World Championships, several men's singles shuttlers have complained about the rigors of a physical training program organized by the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI).
The 1999 All England finalist Taufik Hidayat told The Jakarta Post and Kompas daily on Wednesday that he worried the program might affect his speed or cause injury.
"It doesn't make any sense to me that PBSI is forcing us to have the physical training with only two weeks to go. I'm afraid I will get injured with the harder training," he said.
PBSI called up physical trainer Tahir Djide on Monday to provide extra training to prepare the shuttlers for the Sudirman Cup and the World Championships, to be held in consecutive weeks in Copenhagen from May 10 to May 24.
Taufik, 19, spoke emotionally of not being able to stand the training, especially when Tahir ordered him to stretch his injury-prone back.
"I cried because I tend to have back injuries if I force my training. I can do what he says but I won't be able to play in both events. Is this what PBSI wants from me?
"I told doctor Michael (Triangto) that I couldn't handle this kind of exercise," he said, referring to the association's doctor.
Taufik, world ranked 12, will compete in both events with 1998 Asian Games silver medalist Hendrawan and 1998 Indonesia Open finalist Budi Santoso.
Taufik preferred to concentrate only on the World Championships.
"With Budi and Hendrawan on the team, I'll focus on the World Championships. But I'll be ready for the Sudirman Cup," he said.
Budi, ranked third in the world, seconded Taufik's protest.
"The time is too short to have physical training. We are worried that we will get injured. The physical training just started two days ago and I think we can't follow it 100 percent."
He believed the two-week-period should be used instead for maintenance training.
Tahir also expressed surprise at PBSI decision's on timing of the training, saying it should have been started three months ago.
"We lack time for the physical training, but that's what PBSI wants me to do. How can I prepare them to reach their best in a very short time?"
PBSI vice chairman Agus Wirahadikusumah defended his decision.
"Pak Tahir is a very experienced physical trainer and I am sure that he has arranged his program as needed by PBSI and he has also considered our need and the limited time," he said.
"A physical trainer is always disliked by athletes because the training is always hard."
"I hope Pak Tahir can provide the proper training for our shuttlers and they will be physically fit for both major events."
Agus said he told the shuttlers not to complain too much with the hard training, saying he was not fully really satisfied with their form in recent international tournaments.
"Maybe they are protesting because they know well their condition. But maybe they are wrong because I think their stamina and fighting spirit are very bad," he said.
Agus said he planned to take the national squad for a two-day rest at a resort in Lido, West Java.
Indonesia has registered Hendrawan, Taufik, Budi and Hariyanto Arbi in the men's singles, and Mia Audina, Cindana, Ellen Angelina and Lidya Djaelawidjaja in the women's singles for both events.
The men's doubles teams of Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan, Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, Antonius and Denny Kantono and Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian will also join the squad.
Women's duos of Elysa and Deyana Lomban, Indarti Issoliana and Carmelita and Cynthia Tuwankotta and Etty Tantri and mixed pairs of Tri Kusherjanto and Minarti Timur, Bambang Suprianto and Zelin Resiana and Wahyu Agung and Emma Ermawati are also included.
PBSI is to stage a competition simulation at the Armed Forces headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Friday and at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, on Wednesday. (yan)