Tony asked to rejoin Thomas Cup team

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has given Sydney 2000 Olympics gold medalist Tony Gunawan until the end of this month to make up his mind whether or not to rejoin the national team for the Thomas Cup finals in May.

Tony, who grabbed the men's doubles gold medals with Candra Wijaya, resigned from the Indonesian Badminton Center (PBI) last October due to school commitments. He is also planning to marry Etty Tantri, a former national shuttler.

"Although we have plenty of men's doubles players with equal skills and strength, Tony's presence in the Thomas Cup will surely boost our chances to defend the Cup," PBSI chairman Chairul Tanjung said on Friday.

Indonesia is grooming Bambang Suprianto, Candra, Halim Heryanto, Sigit Budiarto and Tri Kusheryanto for the biennial world men's team championship. The doubles specialists can change partner among them with equal strength, according to Chairul.

Chairul, however, said the decision was up to Tony "who knows what is best for his future."

"We can't wait forever and have given him until late this month to make a decision."

PBSI has also summoned three other players who have quit the national team for the Thomas Cup and its co-featuring Uber Cup women's tournament. Men's singles Taufik Hidayat and women's singles players Ellen Angelina and Yuli Marfuah regrouped with their old mates in early December.

If Tony's presence is a morale booster, Taufik will be expected to earn Indonesia a crucial point for the country's Thomas Cup squad.

"We still have the strongest men's doubles pairs but are shaky in the men's singles. Taufik is expected to cover the weak field," said Chairul.

"Taufik has been absent in some major tournaments causing his world rank to drop significantly. He will be the most suitable candidate for the third singles match."

The Thomas Cup and Uber Cup are played in a format of three singles matches and two doubles matches.

Chairul revealed a similar strategy has been designed for the Uber Cup team, which will hold its semifinals round from Feb. 20 to Feb. 24 in Melbourne, Australia.

"We expect Ellen to steal a point in her position as the third singles player."

Indonesia last won the Uber Cup in 1996 after defeating China in Hong Kong. China recaptured the Cup in 1998 and defended it in 2000.

As the reigning Thomas Cup champion, Indonesia automatically qualifies for the finals to be held in Guangzhou, China.

Meanwhile, Chairul said Taufik was free to move to Singapore after the Thomas Cup, as long as he meets all the requirements.

"A shuttler must obtain approval from their club and also from PBSI's branch and chapter, which oversees the club, before leaving," he said.

"PBSI will not give clearance without such recommendations."

Emphasizing that PBSI could no longer prevent its shuttlers from moving, he said the badminton body deserved some compensation.

"It's just like in soccer, where players and clubs receive a certain amount of the transfer fee. We still have to amend the regulations on this matter," he said.