Uber Cup squad still has time to improve its skills: Manager

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Uber Cup women's badminton team have yet to reach its peak performance prior to the qualifying round on Feb. 20-24 in Melbourne, Australia.

The shuttlers are focusing their training to recover their physical fitness and skills.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has named ten shuttlers to grab a place in the finals rounds in May in Guangzhou, China.

The shuttlers are singles shuttlers Lidya Djaelawidjaja, Atu Rosalina, Ellen Angelina and Dian Novita Sari.

The doubles shuttlers are Deyana Lomban, Emma Ermawati, Eny Erlangga, Jo Novita, Minarti Timur and Vita Marissa.

"We don't want to force them suddenly after a long break. We are concentrating on recovering their stamina first," Uber Cup team manager Rusdi Jacob told reporters on Friday.

"We have about three weeks left before we leave for Melbourne to polish their skills."

Rusdi was speaking on the sidelines of a warm-up series of matches at the Bung Karno Badminton Hall. Divided into two teams, Rajawali and Garuda, the shuttlers were playing in an order which will be used in the Uber Cup matches.

The shuttlers were mixed with other Uber candidates in the warm-up matches to form a team.

Defying her right shoulder injury, Lidya beat her junior Dewi Tira Arisandi 8-6, 7-4, 8-6 in the first match to give Rajawali its early lead.

It was clear that Lidya failed to use her extensive experience and take advantage of Dewi's careless placement.

"I could not send my smashes because it is still hurt. I am still recovering from the injury," Lidya said after the match.

In the second match, doubles pair of veterans Deyana and Minarti were too strong for second stringers Vita and Eny of the Rajawali team.

Deyana and Minarti did not have much trouble while handing out a 7-0, 7-2, 7-0 thrashing that gave the Garuda team the equalizer.

Ellen extended Garuda's lead by defeating Yuli Marfuah 7-3, 4- 7, 7-5, 7-3.

Earlier, PBSI chairman Chairul Tanjung told the Uber Cup team to give their best performance in Melbourne.

"Although we seldom win the Cup, our team always takes part in the finals rounds. This is indeed a heavy burden for you to grab a place in the finals rounds," he said.

Indonesia's female squad is currently plagued by injuries among its veteran shuttlers while the second stringers and juniors are not quite up to their seniors' skills.