West Java insists on sending Olympic shuttlers to PON

BANDUNG (JP): The West Java chapter of the National Sports Council (KONI) still sent its Olympics qualified shuttlers to compete in the upcoming 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya next week.

The chapter chairman Dedem Ruchlia urged the shuttlers not to be emotional and boycott the quadrennial event due to the ban letter issued by the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) earlier this month.

"The West Java chapter will be loyal to KONI's decision on the matter," Dedem said Friday after sending the West Java contingent to PON.

Dedem claimed he has yet to receive any official letter from PBSI or KONI on the ban of the qualified shuttlers to compete in PON.

Chairman of the PBSI West Java chapter Idin Rafioedin still hoped eight shuttlers -- Taufik Hidayat, Rexy Mainaky, Candra Wijaya, Ricky Subagja, Rexy Mainaky, Flandy Limpele, Elysa Nathanael and Lidya Djaelawidjaja -- would be allowed to play for their province as badminton is a sporting gold mine for West Java.

"But we will wait for the results of the negotiation between our chapter and PBSI," Dedem said.

PBSI banned the shuttlers from competing in PON to avoid the risk of injury and to allow them to concentrate on the Grand Prix series, including the Indonesia Open, to improve their seeding listing for the Olympics.

About 650 West Java athletes and officials paraded from Gedung Sate on Jl. Diponegoro to the Bandung Railway station on Jl. Kebon Kawung. Unfortunately, the parade failed to generate sympathy from the public.

West Java KONI paid Rp 120 million (US$13,980) to the state owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia to transport the contingent to Surabaya.

In Semarang, chairman of the Central Java KONI chapter Djoko Sudantoko told The Jakarta Post that the province aimed to win 65 gold medals.

"We also aim to finish third in the overall title but we must take over from West Java which is a very heavy duty for our athletes," he said.

Central Java is sending 352 athletes, 33 team managers and 105 coaches to PON. The athletes will compete in 30 competitive sports and two exhibitional sports. (25/har)