Yayuk-Sabatini exhibition match set
Yayuk-Sabatini exhibition match set
JAKARTA (JP): An argument over an exhibition match pitting
Yayuk Basuki against Argentine world number five Gabriela
Sabatini has been resolved, and organizers have offered a
"reconciliation" meeting with the Indonesian Tennis Association
(Pelti).
"There has been no problem with our program actually. It's a
part of the three-year deal between Yayuk and her sport agent we
have to appreciate," Yayuk's manager, Nurfina Djohan of Pelita
Jaya, told journalists yesterday.
Nurfina said Poncosutowo and Martina Wijaya, entrepreneurs who
are also Pelti officials, had helped the organizers solve the
dispute.
Yayuk, who is Indonesia's top-ranked women's singles player
and currently ranked 28 in the world, is scheduled to play
Sabatini on Sept. 14 and 16 at the newly completed 2000-seat
Kemayoran tennis complex.
The two-day matches will be another non-title showing between
both players. The last match was held in Taipei in February last
year, with Sabatini beating the Indonesian.
The program, jointly organized by Spectrum, Pelita Jaya tennis
club and Pelti's Jakarta chapter, became a hot debate following a
call from Pelti secretary general Eddy Katimansah, asking for a
delay of the matches due to Pelti's busy schedule for the next
five months.
Yayuk has a three-year deal with Spectrum since last year and
receives US$200,000 annually. Half of the money goes to Pelita
Jaya's coffers.
Davis Cup
Eddy said the exhibition matches would keep some companies
from sponsoring Pelti's programs, which includes the Davis Cup
tie between Indonesia and Switzerland later this month and the
ATP World Doubles finals in November. Apparently, the exhibition
could also affect sponsorship of the Indonesia Women's Open and
Indonesia Men's Open in January.
Yayuk, who is now playing in the U.S. Open, responded to
Eddy's statement by saying that she would quit the national team
for good if Pelti barred her from the long-awaited matches.
Eddy abruptly made a U-turn on Thursday, saying that Pelti
would throw its weight behind the two-day matches because the
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman had given a nod
to the plan.
"This has nothing to do with Yayuk's threat," Eddy said. "It's
just a matter of our commitment to respect the government's
policy," he added. Pelti also asked Spectrum to submit the
proposal of the tennis show.
Nurfina said that she suggested a formal meeting with Pelti to
clarify the matter. Organizers sent two letters informing Pelti
about the matches last February and May, but received no answer.
"The meeting should be held as soon as possible," Nurfina
said.
Tickets for the tennis fanfare are sold at between Rp 5,000
and Rp 10,000 (between $2.3 and $4.6). (amd)