Underdog tag motivates female shuttlers
JAKARTA (JP): Being an underdog in the Thomas and Uber Cup championships in Kuala Lumpur next week has motivated Indonesia's female shuttlers to turn the presumption upside down.
"Being an underdog makes us want to prove that it's not right. We have the chance to show our real strength in the team event," said second singles Ellen Angelina, world ranked 23.
"We have trained and practiced very hard. The reason for being absent in the Japan Open was to prepare ourselves better in the remaining one month."
Teammate Lidya Djaelawidjaja shared the same view. "The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) only targets us to reach the semifinals but we are committed to go through to the final," said the world number 21.
Women's doubles player Elysa Nathanael said, "We have prepared ourselves better for the Uber Cup. People can say we performed badly in individual tournaments but that won't happen in a team event."
"Compared to individual events, we are in top condition for the Uber Cup as we've been prepared in the last month."
Badminton lovers said Indonesia's team had little hope in the Uber Cup event as the country lacked good shuttlers since the retirement of 1992 Olympic gold medalist Susi Susanti and the 1996 Olympic silver medalist Mia Audina moved to the Netherlands.
PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo only hopes the shuttlers will reach the semifinals of the event.
Indonesia is in the pink group with Japan, Denmark and Malaysia, while defending champion China is in the purple group with South Korea, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Former PBSI officials Ferry Sonneville and Titus Kurniadi expressed the same opinion, that Indonesian shuttlers only had a slight chance to win the Uber Cup.
"It will be really difficult to bring home the Uber Cup although we still have to do our best. However, we must not think only of the short period but for a longer term. In the future, we hope our female shuttlers can fulfill our ambition to win the Cup," Ferry said during PBSI 49th anniversary ceremonies at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.
"I personally think it's very tough to win the Uber Cup considering that China, our rival in 1998, is very dominant in singles and doubles," Titus said.
Speaking of the first match against Japan on May 11, Lidya said, "Technically we are better than the Japanese but they are tough players so we must play tougher."
Lidya is expected to meet world number nine Yasuko Mizui in the first singles match.
"I have seen her playing. She's very tough so we must be very patient in rallying with her. The key is not to make unforced errors during the match."
Ellen, who is likely to meet the 1998 Asian Games gold medalist Kanako Yonekura, said she had visualized Yonekura's playing.
"I only have to improve my accuracy and speed. I have additional sessions after practice to work on those two factors."
Elysa and Minarti Timur, a mixed doubles specialist, shared the same idea, that Japanese players were tough and always chase for the shuttlecock all over the court.
"Their strokes are not dangerous but they always chase the shuttlecock anywhere," said Minarti, who joined the Uber Cup team for the second time.
PBSI celebrated its anniversary by inviting 100 orphans to join the shuttlers in the commemoration. It will also stage shadow puppet shows Saturday evening to entertain people living near the center. (yan)