Tennis body installs eight national players

JAKARTA (JP): The National Tennis Body yesterday officially installed eight national elite players who were selected after a six-day tournament.

Rusmadi Sidek, the Indonesian Tennis Association's deputy, inaugurated the new team on behalf of chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja who was admitted to hospital earlier yesterday following a sudden heart attack.

Andrian Raturandang, Indonesian most promising player, completed his unbeaten run by downing national number one Sulistyo Wibowo 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 on the final day of the selection tournament at the Senayan tennis complex yesterday and put himself at the top of the table.

Andrian's fellow Davis Cup teammate Sebastian da Costa defeated former Davis Cupper Bonit Wiryawan 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to finish second.

Seniors Bonit and Sulistyo were third and fourth respectively.

Also yesterday, Suhendar Dinata won the playoff for the fifth place after beating Djanuar Radjab 6-4, 6-3. Febi Widhiyanto took the seventh spot, thanks to his 6-4, 6-2 win over Samsudin Pare.

Wimar Witoelar, director of the national team, told reporters after the ceremony that the tennis body will provide housing and a practice schedule for the eight players. It will also arrange their participation in tournaments sanctioned by the ATP Tour.

Several coaches and physical trainers will also be hired to train the players in an effort to improve their skills and endurance.

"We'll arrange decentralized programs to prepare them for international events," Wimar said.

Sulistyo, however, complained that the selection tournament failed to live up to its billing due to the absence of all the best players.

"I'm not satisfied with the result, I'm more disappointed because Suwandi, Donny Susetyo and Benny Wijaya were all missing," he said.

"If only they were here, the competition would have been more interesting," Andrian added.

The three top players failed to turn up for the tournament with various reasons. Both Suwandi and Donny are playing in Taiwan, while Benny stuck by his club commitments.

Wimar said that the tennis body will give all international duties to the eight selected players. "If Suwandi and the others want to join the national team, they must take part in the next selection tournament in December," he asserted. (yan)