Three top badminton stars deserve Olympic berths
Three top badminton stars deserve Olympic berths
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia needs to declare that its top three singles players deserve Olympic berths, national head coach said yesterday.
Head coach Indra Gunawan said that such a definite statement would shield the players from "frustrations caused by a struggle for nothing" in their quest for the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia this summer.
"Uncertainty about who will go to Atlanta will mount particularly among men's singles players because we'll have many choices," Indra said.
Only world top 16 singles players and doubles teams on the rankings issued by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in April qualify for the Olympics which offer five gold medals in the sport.
A country is allowed only to name three qualified singles and pairs for the competition.
"We have to stick to what the rankings say, despite the puzzling arithmetic in the new point system applied by the IBF," Indra said.
The Indonesian badminton governing body has decided to give all its players an opportunity for Olympic berths but has never made a formal statement about the criteria involved.
Reigning world champion Hariyanto Arbi and his predecessor Joko Suprianto, who are placed second and first respectively in the world rankings, top Indra's rooster for the men's singles. Both players will make their Olympic debuts.
Women's singles
Indra said that Alan Budikusuma, Ardy Wiranata and Hermawan Susanto, Olympic gold medalist, silver medalist and bronze medalist respectively, have an equal chance to complete his list.
"But we have to pick the best of the three, regardless of the possible intangible strategies to maintain our gold medals," Indra said. Badminton gave Indonesia two golds in the 1992 Olympics.
Ardy and Hermawan will play in the Swiss Open, scheduled to start at the end of this month, in a bid to close their gap with Alan who is now world number three. Alan will miss the four-star tournament, a prelude of the All England.
All Indonesia's Olympic hopefuls will have their fates decided in the All England from March 13 to 17.
Women's singles
Indra said that Indonesia also faces a problem in the third women's singles, with rising teenage star Lydia Djaelawidjaja battling against veteran Yuliani Sentosa for a place to accompany Susi Susanti and Mia Audina.
Yuliani, ranked 11th in the world, will join Ardy and Hermawan in Switzerland, while Lydia will play in the Swedish Open, another All England warm-up.
"Yuliani looks to have a better chance than Lydia, but there was likely no communication between coaches and the association about the outings," Indra said.
"European players are now focusing on the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup preliminary round and will probably miss the Swiss Open," Indra said.
The Swedish Open is a three-star tournament, but European top players like Lim Xiaoqing of Sweden looks certain to come in.
"The association now tends to accept proposals from coaches without an argument," Indra complained. (amd)