Thomas and Uber Cup players get boost
Thomas and Uber Cup players get boost
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian badminton players received the Thomas
Cup and Uber Cup finals boost they needed when they met President
Soeharto at the State Palace yesterday.
"Indonesians always look forward to seeing their favorites
triumph in every international badminton event," Soeharto said
upon receiving the Indonesian teams who were flanked by chairman
of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) Soerjadi and
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman.
The President insisted that the players make an all-out fight
to produce a double victory, while warning them not to look down
their noses at any opponents they may face.
"This is not an easy task, but all Indonesian people stand
behind you," Soeharto said.
President said the shuttlers' success in winning both coveted
trophies would draw attention from many countries around the
world. "Many countries know Bali better than Indonesia," Soeharto
said.
Indonesia brought home the two symbols of world badminton team
supremacy in the same season when a Rudy Hartono-led team blanked
Malaysia 9-0 in 1976 for the Thomas Cup trophy in addition to
Minarni and company's 5-2 victory over Japan in the 1975 Uber Cup
finals.
China, the current Uber Cup title holder, took both trophies
three times in a row in 1986, 1988 and 1990.
The Indonesian Thomas Cup team, led by world number one Joko
Suprianto, is eying their ninth title in the May 10-21 finals
slated for the Senayan indoor stadium.
Soerjadi, who is also the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff,
reported to Soeharto during the brief meeting that PBSI's
preparations for badminton's most prestigious events were almost
complete.
As the meeting was heading to an end, President had a coffee
break and warm conversation with Indonesia's badminton heroes.
Soeharto wanted to know how long the teams training sessions were
every day.
"We have a five-hour session per day," women's world champion
Susi Susanti, representing her teammates, said in response to
President's question.
Eight countries qualify for the finals in each event, with
host Indonesia, Uber Cup holder China and Thomas Cup holder
Malaysia receiving automatic tickets to the finals.
The International Badminton Federation (IBF) approves only
nine players to form a team for each event which will stage three
singles and two doubles matches.
Denmark, debutante Finland, Sweden, South Korea, China and
Thailand are the other teams to line up the men's team
championship, while the women's division will also see red-hot
favorite South Korea, five-time winner Japan, newcomer Russia,
Denmark, Sweden and Thailand.
Denmark will arrive tomorrow to become the first team to enter
the biennial event. Sweden will be the last, but not the least,
squad to enter. (amd)