Tennis body installs eight national players

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)