Weak rupiah may hamper Seville badminton team
JAKARTA (JP): The weakening of the rupiah's exchange rate in the last few days could hamper the Badminton Association of Indonesia's (PBSI) plan to send a strong squad to the Sudirman Cup and the World Championships in Seville, Spain, next month.
PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo told reporters on Friday that the association must raise funds to cover the deficit as it made its budgeting plan earlier this year based on a rate of Rp 8,000 per dollar.
The rupiah gained ground on Friday to close at Rp 11,800 per dollar.
"PBSI officials have been given a headache due to the rupiah's recent fall. If conditions worsen, the budget will double and it may hamper our target of winning the Sudirman Cup and gaining titles at the World Championships," Subagyo said.
"If the exchange rate reaches Rp 15,000 per dollar, we may have to cancel sending our squad to both events. We just won't be able to afford it."
However, Subagyo declined to disclose the budget being prepared by the association and where it would gain more money to cover the deficit.
With a revised target to bring home the Sudirman Cup, PBSI plans to send its strongest shuttlers to the biennial event, although Subagyo remained tight-lipped on the precise list of names.
"I'll announce the names next week. I just need to sign the final agreement."
The Sudirman Cup will take place at San Pablo Stadium in Seville from May 28 to June 3. The World Championships will be slated at the same venue the following week.
In conjunction to the event, the International Badminton Federation will also elect its new president among three strong candidates; Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, Justian Suhandinata of Indonesia and Korn Dabbaransi of Thailand.
PBSI is likely to send world number three Taufik Hidayat, Olympic silver medalist and world number 11 Hendrawan, and world number seven Marlev Mainaky in the men's singles.
Three top men's doubles of the 1997 world champions and 2001 Japan Open winners Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, All England winners Tony Gunawan and Halim Heryanto and world number two Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian are definite members of the squad.
Mixed doubles specialists Bambang Supriyanto, Tri Kusheryanto, Minarti Timur and Emma Ermawati will likely join the team.
Women's singles shuttlers Lidya Djaelawidjaja and Yuli Marfuah and women's doubles Deyana Lomban, Indarti Issoliana, Etty Tantri and Carmelita are predicted to be included in the team.
Candra assured his willingness to fulfill the PBSI's ambitious target of bringing home the Sudirman Cup, named after the late former PBSI chairman.
"The players have committed themselves to performing all out at the Sudirman Cup. We want Indonesia to have a chance to win the cup again after 12 years of waiting," he said.
Hendrawan and Taufik threw their weight on their teammate's ambition.
Indonesia won the trophy in the opening year of the annual event in Jakarta in 1989. South Korea won the Cup twice before handing it over to defending champion China, who duly scored a hat trick, retaining the cup over three consecutive years.
Indonesia is in the same group as Denmark and England while China will be in another group with South Korea and Sweden.
Despite there being 24 shuttlers for the event, PBSI will also send 18 officials including Subagyo, team manager Karsono, deputy team manager Hadi Nazri, PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata, head coach Christian Hadinata, six coaches, doctor Michael Triangto and two masseurs. (yan)