West Java insists on sending Olympic shuttlers to PON
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)