Taufik gives PBSI 2 weeks to include Mulyo

Taufik gives PBSI 2 weeks to include Mulyo

JAKARTA (JP): World number four Taufik Hidayat gave the
Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) two weeks to reconsider
its decision not to offer his coach Mulyo Handoyo a contract with
the Indonesian Badminton Center.

He said Mulyo's exclusion was based on personal reasons and
had nothing to do with his achievements as a coach.

"I give PBSI two weeks to reconsider its decision. They will
read the news tomorrow and I will wait for their reaction. If
after two weeks they have not taken action, I will decide whether
I will compete in or skip the All England," the 19-year-old
shuttler said during a media conference on Friday.

"I reached the All England finals twice (in 1999 and 2000).
This year, I hope to win it. But with only one month left, PBSI
took the drastic step of not calling Mas Mulyo (to the center). I
feel like I was stabbed in the back," he said, unable to hide his
tears.

"PBSI has always demanded good results from me but how can I
achieve these results without a good coach who really understands
me?" he asked.

"My coach is the only person who knows what to do to help me
reach my peak form in only one month."

Earlier, PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, who was the target
of Taufik's criticism of the organization's performance in
November, told The Jakarta Post and GO sports tabloid it was
uncertain Mulyo could help Taufik succeed at the All England.

"Is it guaranteed that being coached by Mulyo can help Taufik
win the All England? Let's see what he has done so far. He even
failed to reach the semifinals of the Sydney Olympics in
September," Subagyo said after a practice at the Indonesian
Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

"I don't have any personal dispute with Taufik but we must see
how he did in the last few tournaments, including the Ipoh Master
and the Inter-Club National Badminton Championships."

Taufik failed to reach the semifinals of the Ipoh Master and
had to play a rubber set in the semifinals of the Inter-Club
championships.

Taufik defended himself saying that he managed to reach the
All England final last year, won the Indonesia and Malaysia
opens, as well as the Asian Badminton Championships. Taufik also
was undefeated in Indonesia's successful campaign to bring home
the Thomas Cup for the 12th time in May.

"PBSI should have reviewed Mas Mulyo's performance. His two
athletes, me and Marlev, won our matches in the Thomas Cup. We
both qualified for the Olympics although we lost in the early
rounds. They should have considered his work instead of his
personal life."

Subagyo said PBSI decided not to call Mulyo to the center
because of "regeneration".

But he later said another men's singles coach, Agus Dwi
Santoso, had shown a lot of promise. "He also has a good
personality."

Taufik, who was unable to play in the Korea Open and World
Grand Prix Finals because of a suspension handed to him by PBSI,
confirmed that he would not attend the training center's opening
roll call on Monday.

"I don't know what to do without my coach and I have to cool
down and think before making a decision.

"Besides, I doubt the new coach will be able to understand my
personality like Mas Mulyo. It will take time to adapt to a new
coach.

"I think PBSI must involve shuttlers in naming coaches as they
directly affect our performance," he said.

Taufik said it was clear that some badminton officials were
eager to see his career derailed.

"It is quite obvious that some PBSI officials are delighted to
see my career going down. Especially when one official said I was
allowed to pick any coach I wanted except Mulyo," he said,
refusing to name the official.

He said he could have accepted the decision if the reasoning
behind it was logical and he had been told in advance.

"If only the PBSI officials told me that Mas Mulyo's contract
expired and they were thinking of hiring someone else based on
his superior achievements, then I might have been able to accept
it.

"But it was so sudden and the weirdest thing is that the
players were not told about the decision. I found out about this
from the press."

Taufik denied reports that Mulyo was too lenient with him.
"Mas Mulyo was always angry if I was undisciplined. He always
told me to keep on the right track."

And he refused to discuss reports that Mulyo is in the process
of divorcing his wife. "About his personal life, I don't care. I
have been under his supervision for four years and found that we
make a great team and perform well together regardless of his
personal problems."

"I also have my own attitude problems. I lack discipline but
we proved ourselves on the court by achieving good results."
(nvn/yan)