Total overhaul demanded to revive badminton pride
Total overhaul demanded to revive badminton pride
JAKARTA (JP): A total overhaul in the training of Indonesian
badminton players is crucial if they are to win gold medals in
the 25th Olympic Games in Atlanta, noted sports observer
Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar believes.
The former training director of the Badminton Association of
Indonesia spoke up yesterday after learning about the departure
of all five Indonesian men's singles competitors before the
semifinals of the All England championships currently underway in
Birmingham.
Siregar, who claims to be an insider of the badminton body,
said that uncommunicated problems between coaches or team
managers and players might have contributed to the current
setback, which is the worst performance ever by Indonesian
shuttlers in badminton history.
The five are top seed and former world champion Joko
Suprianto, world champion Hariyanto Arbi, Barcelona Olympic gold
medalist Alan Budikusuma, former world silver medalist Hermawan
Susanto, and 1992 winner Ardy Wiranata.
To add insult to injury, Uber Cup heroine Mia Audina also went
down 0-11, 12-10, 11-1 to little known Chinese player Dai Yun,
leaving Susi Susanti as the only Indonesian survivor in the
women's singles.
"These results leave me at a loss as to what we should do in
order to secure the men's singles gold medal in Atlanta," Siregar
said.
"I believe that our mixed doubles as well as our world number
one men's pair of Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja can make it in
Atlanta. But our chance in the women's doubles looks dim while in
the women's singles we will depend entirely on Susi and Mia."
Indonesia swept the two singles gold medals in Barcelona
through Alan and Susi.
Siregar blamed the badminton body for not treating injured
players properly.
"I heard Mia complaining of 'strange sounds' from her injured
thigh. But her coach and doctor said she was okay and was ready
for the All England," the 68-year-old observer said.
He said that Hariyanto is another Indonesian player
susceptible to injury. On Thursday, he crashed to South Korean
Park Sung-woo, who has just recovered from a torn Achilles
tendon.
"I wonder if Hariyanto has fully recovered from his injury?"
Siregar queried.
Discipline
Siregar said the shuttlers need more personal disciplinary
measures which their supervisors do not seem to care about. "Have
they ever controlled what time they go to bed so that they can
wake up fully refreshed for another day's workout? What about
food? Who cares whether or not they need food supplements?"
Supervisors should be careful not to give players the
impression they are just machines exploited to produce gold
medals, said Siregar, also project manager of the Indonesian team
for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
He also surmised that national players have become bored with
their regular life at their training center in Cilangkap, East
Jakarta.
"I don't exactly know what caused the ennui. But the players
have been training there for years. They just train and train.
There's no recreation and no efforts to refresh the situation."
Siregar also noted that there are what he calls "natural
problems" such as more commitment to spouses and the future
rather than to rigorous training.
"I will not be surprised if Susi has begun thinking of
marriage and making a living and thus, can no longer fully
concentrate on her badminton career," he said. (arf)