Tanri says no favoritism in picking Davis Cup players

Tanri says no favoritism in picking Davis Cup players

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) chairman
Tanri Abeng said on Tuesday that there would be no favoritism in
choosing the members of the Davis Cup team, who will play against
Chinese Taipei in the final of Group Two Asia Oceania zone in
October.

He said that Pelti wanted to create a competitive environment
for senior as well as junior tennis players before it picked the
most suitable players to face Chinese Taipei here from Oct. 6 to
Oct. 8.

"We want to encourage them to be more competitive. We won't be
partial. There won't be any golden boy. They have to show their
best form and be competitive. Their chances to be included in
this team depends on their achievements," he said.

Tanri told a media briefing on Tuesday that Pelti would decide
the team members after four Futures tournaments were held here
before the Davis Cup tie. He also said that the association would
not spend much to send its top players to compete overseas.

The previous team -- consisting of Suwandi, Febi Widhiyanto
and veteran double specialists Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo
-- routed Malaysia 5-0 in the Group Two Davis Cup Asia Oceania
zone in Kuala Lumpur last week.

Indonesia has also a prospective junior pair of Edi
Kusdaryanto and Hendri Susilo Pramono, but they had to give way
to Bonit and Sulistyo when the team played in Malaysia.

After the thrilling rounds in Malaysia, Bonit, Sulistyo and
Edi will not be able to compete in other overseas tournaments due
to financial restraints.

Suwandi and Febi have found sponsors to finance their overseas
stint to improve their world rankings.

"We may compete at home. It's impossible for me to go overseas
because I have no money," Sulistyo said, while his partner Bonit
added: "I want to compete in international events because as a
double pair, I think we can improve our ranking notably in the
Asian region. But I am cash-strapped so I think we will compete
here."

Suwandi is being sponsored by businesswoman Martina Widjaja
while Febi and Hendri are being sponsored by Allianz Life
Indonesia insurance company and German airline Lufthansa. Febi
and Hendri will fly to Germany to join the Schwetzingen tennis
club and compete in the US$15,000 Futures in Reilingen on April
21.

Meanwhile, Martina said she had hired an Australian coach,
Chris Johnson, as advisor to Fed Cup team member Yayuk Basuki.
"He will be in Jakarta for three weeks. He is preparing Yayuk for
this event."

Besides senior Yayuk, Indonesia's Fed Cup team includes
another senior women's player Irawati Moerid Iskandar, and
Wukirasih Sawondari.

Martina, also the Fed Cup team manager, said Wynne and Irawati
were training in Los Angeles in the United States while Wukirasih
was in Beijing, China.

Indonesia will take part in the Asia Oceania Group I tie in
Osaka, Japan, from April 24 to April 30. The tie will be attended
by host Japan, Indonesia, China, Chinese Taipei, South Korea,
Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and
Singapore. (ivy)