Young shuttlers need chance to shine

By Primastuti Handayani

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, one of the world's top badminton nations, is in danger of witnessing a repeat of the player crisis it encountered in the 1980s when China returned to the international scene and quickly began to dominate the sport.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia must start to send junior shuttlers to international events to prepare them for their senior careers.

The association must also be aware of other countries' power. National shuttlers took three titles in the World Cup Badminton Championships -- the women's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles -- and two in the World Grand Prix Finals -- the women's singles and men's doubles -- but it must be remembered that both events were staged in Indonesia.

China, which has groomed many good young players, Denmark, South Korea and Malaysia are all in a position to dominate badminton in the future if Indonesia neglects the development of its young shuttlers.

The success in both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup after do-or- die matches in Hong Kong in May must be continued with a clean sweep in the SEA Games here next October.

Old hands

So far, the association is still relying on old hands, especially in the singles.

Joko Suprianto, 1992 Olympic gold medalist, Alan Budikusuma, Hermawan Susanto and Ardy B Wiranata have been the country's backbone for many years.

Haryanto Arby, who used to be the number one shuttler in the world, still has to contend with injuries and he is not yet ready to resume his former role in the national team.

However, several juniors - Jeffer Rosobin, Indra Wijaya, Budi Santoso and Salim - have shown that they deserve chances to perform on the international scene.

Jeffer, who won the Asia Cup championship in Surabaya in July, surprisingly eliminated Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen in the round-robin match of the World Cup. He made it to the final but then lost to Chinese Dong Jiong.

Compatriot Indra Wijaya, finalist in the Malaysia Open in August, surprised many people in the Grand Prix Finals by beating Dong in the round-robin match.

Indonesia's Budi Santoso advanced to the finals of the Indonesia Open but lost to senior Joko Suprianto and Salim cruised to the Denmark Open's final but lost to Fung Permadi, a former Indonesian shuttler who is now playing for Chinese Taipei.

"We, the juniors, need more chances to take part in international tournaments. If the association only sends the seniors, how can we perform as well as them," said Jeffer.

Their records show that the juniors have the potential to become great players, like their seniors, but they still need more experience of the pressures, both mental and physical, of performing in major tournaments.

The juniors foreign counterparts are Chinese shuttlers including Dong, Sun, Chen Gang, Denmark's Peter Rasmussen and Peter Gade Christensen and Malaysia's Ong Ewe Hock.

Mia

In the women's singles, the 1996 Olympic silver medalist, Mia Audina, rarely showed her best form this year as she failed to reach the finals of either the Grand Prix or the World Cup championships.

Susi Susanti, who plans to retire in two or three years time, is still the country's best hope in international events.

"When I was in China, I saw how the local association groomed its young players. I wanted to cry as I am the only cornerstone of my country. I told Mia that it's time for her to replace me," said Susi, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist.

Susi, however, failed to retain her title; only managing to win this year's Olympic bronze. She did become a six-time winner of the Grand Prix Finals though.

Mia and teammates Lydia Djaelawidjaja, Meluawati and Cindana have to work harder in the future to be able to overcome China's juniors, including Ye Zhaoying, Wang Chen, Zhang Ning and Gong Zhichao and South Korea's Ra Kyung-min and Kim Ji-hyun, on a regular basis.

In the men's doubles, Indonesia's toughest rivals are Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock of Malaysia, who won the Olympic silver medal.

But Indonesia has four men's doubles teams. They are Olympic gold medalists Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, Olympic silver medalists Antonius and Denny Kantono and juniors Tony Gunawan and Rudi Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto and Chandra Wijaya.

Although Ricky and Rexy lost in the China Open and Hong Kong Open in November, they still proved to the best doubles by winning the Grand Prix Finals.

Antonius and Denny also demonstrated they can assume Rexy and Ricky's mantle some time in the future by winning the World Cup, beating the newly formed partnership of Rexy and Sigit in the final.

In the women's doubles, Indonesia only has one world class pair, Eliza and Zelin Resiana, after Lily Tampi retired on her marriage and her partner Finarsih has yet to find a new partner.

Minarti Timur and Trikus Heryanto are still the country's mainstay in the mixed doubles. Teammates Flandy Limpele and Risyeu Rosalina have to improve before taking over their seniors' role.

As Jeffer stated, the association must be willing to send juniors to international events. It must also not expect overnight success but must look forward to realizing their athletes' potential in the future.

Yes it would indeed be a bold decision for Indonesia to send junior players to international events immediately to avoid the 1980s crisis to repeat itself but it is a step that should be taken.