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http://203.115.194.54/ams/banman.asp?ZoneID=91&Task=Get&Mode=HTML&SiteID=1&PageID=67623 (http://203.115.194.54/ams/banman.asp?ZoneID=91&Task=Click&Mode=HTML&SiteID=1&PageID=67623) The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my/default.asp) > Sports (http://thestar.com.my/news/sports/) Friday May 7, 2004


Candra wants to overcome setback



IT has been difficult for doubles shuttler Candra Wijaya to come to terms with the fact that he will not be representing Indonesia in the Athens Olympic Games.

And Candra, who won the Olympic doubles gold medal with Tony Gunawan in Sydney 2000, aims to overcome the huge setback by playing a pivotal role to help Indonesia retain the Thomas Cup for the sixth consecutive time.

The 28-year-old Candra will be the key player in the Indonesian doubles line-up for the Finals, which begin today. He has been listed as the third-ranked pair with Trikus Hariyanto behind Luluk Hadiyanto-Alven Yulianto and Flandi Limpele-Eng Hian.

In the world rankings at the end of the Olympic qualification period on April 30, Candra and his partner, Halim Hariyanto, were the fourth ranked Indonesian pair among the top 16.

Luluk-Alven were the highest ranked Indonesians at number seven followed by Flandi Limpele-Eng Hian (eighth) and Trikus Hariyanto-Sigit Budiarto (10th).

“A country can only have a maximum of three pairs. We were 12th but still will not get to go to Athens. It is so disappointing,” said Candra yesterday.

“We wanted to play in the Olympics but in our attempts to qualify, there were problems along the way.

“At the German Open last year, Halim’s racquet hit my hand and I could not play for a while. Then, I was down with a back injury during the Thailand Open (January). The bad luck continued and in March, I was down with dengue fever.

“But we still did not give up hope and tried to stay among the top 16. But our hopes were dashed after we lost to Trikus-Sigit in the ABC (Asian Badminton Championships) final last month. We would have made it if we had won.”

Candra is now all fired up to make it count in his fourth outing in the Thomas Cup Finals.

Although he is named as a pair with Trikus, Candra is known for his versatility and Indonesia could field him in scratch combinations with another player.

“I can partner any one of the doubles player in the team. My aim is to win a point and help my country to win the Cup for the 14th time,” he said.

On the crowd support, Candra said: “We are going to give our best and we want our fans to enjoy the game. The presence of the huge crowd will be a boost to our team but we just hope they will not get too wild.”

Yesterday, the Indonesians were in a light mood as they went through their paces in training.

And the players sparred with different partners. Candra paired up with Trikus, Alven, Luluk and even with singles player Simon Santoso.

Their men’s singles trumpcard, Taufik Hidayat, also played doubles partnering Trikus while Sony Dwi Kuncoro teamed up with Alven. And the jester of the team, Trikus, lightened up the situation with his antics during a match with singles debutant Wiempie Mahardi.

Amazing!

I would imagine when Candra split with Sigit he thought he could form a good partner ship with Halim. I thought Sigit and Trikush were going to be left out in the cold, as halim was playing with trikush. I am desperate to see some footage of how sigit and trikush play together, and whether sigit has influenced the way trikush plays.

Watched the AE 2003 MD final last night, and Sigit was a joy to watch it that match, the shots he made were unbelievable, at such a high level game. I understand Lee/Yoo were not really "with it" in that game, but the amount of times they were fooled by returns/flicks to the back court, was amazing considering it was a first class game.

The shots that sigit plays are testament to the confidence he has, and the clarity of mind he has to play them at that level. On one shot Lee smashed three times at him, the final one from about the service line, sigit had it in front of him, then brought his racket back and blocked to the open court on the other side. Most players even at that level, do not have the speed of thought he has to "make" shots from nowhere.

On the other hand other times he can make himself look amateur with the amount of mistakes he makes.

I think Sigit has benefited greatly from playing with trikush as he knows he cannot afford to be sloppy, as trikush is weaker than him. This pressure I tihnk helps to motivate himself for the game more. When he was with candra, I think he relaxed sometimes, as he knew candra was goodenough to take the shots if he plays a bit lose.


Unlucky to candra though, but I hope sigit can be refreshed, and recharged from not playing in TC and really show every one what he can do at the olympics.


Candra has been unlucky, but when It counted in the ABC final, when he had no excuses, he and Halim lost.

“At the German Open last year, Halim’s racquet hit my hand and I could not play for a while. Then, I was down with a back injury during the Thailand Open (January). The bad luck continued and in March, I was down with dengue fever.
awww..... didn't noe all this.... poor candra..... cute cute candra http://www.j37.com/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif http://www.j37.com/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif http://www.j37.com/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif

it's such a pity tat he cannot go athens.... he played very well for ABC quarter n semi... they were in lead 9-0 before their opponents pick up points.... i'm quite surprised they lost in finals :(

awww..... didn't noe all this.... poor candra..... cute cute candra http://www.j37.com/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif http://www.j37.com/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif http://www.j37.com/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif

Poor poor candra... :( :(

This is the ultimate heartbreaking news. :(

Lets wait till an official list of the Indonesian players for OG is announced.

It can happen that someone will be injured (especially after the TC). It is also possible that Indonesian Association decide Candra/Halim go instead of eg. Flandy/Eng - IMHO it is unlikely but who knows…

Anyway it was very fair that the final fight for the ticket to Athens was between Candra/Halim and Sigit/Trikus. Before their match in the ABC final both pairs were even in points and that was decisive match. Now Chandra can blame only himself for losing to his former partner.
It is good that it was decided on court in the fair-play game.

Now, lets wait and see if the world ranking order is followed by PBSI…

kind regards

dzgdz

What I admire most about his Candra is really his attitude. He is always so positive, calm and composed no matter what happens. He is very focussed on his goals, and very clear about what he has to do. Very resolved, very determined. It's a misfortune that such things have to happen to him. It must be the most disastrous thing in his career (if no miracle happens eventually) and the saddest way to end it. Perhaps as his fans, we can pick up positive points from him. If he's not complaining about missing the cut for his final Olympics, perhaps we can be a little more tolerant and not complain incessantly about trivialities like faulty websites (they are obviously first timers at live scoring, or rather, a decent website), lousy TV stations (semis and finals are better than nothing at all. more than half the world isn't gonna catch any bit of it) and not getting instant results (which we will be informed of eventually. the website is not THAT slow).

Good luck to Candra. Hopefully a miracle would really happen.

What I admire most about his Candra is really his attitude. He is always so positive, calm and composed no matter what happens. He is very focussed on his goals, and very clear about what he has to do. Very resolved, very determined. It's a misfortune that such things have to happen to him. It must be the most disastrous thing in his career (if no miracle happens eventually) and the saddest way to end it. Perhaps as his fans, we can pick up positive points from him. If he's not complaining about missing the cut for his final Olympics, perhaps we can be a little more tolerant and not complain incessantly about trivialities like faulty websites (they are obviously first timers at live scoring, or rather, a decent website), lousy TV stations (semis and finals are better than nothing at all. more than half the world isn't gonna catch any bit of it) and not getting instant results (which we will be informed of eventually. the website is not THAT slow).

Good luck to Candra. Hopefully a miracle would really happen.

Didnt mean to be harsh but imagine this... You just found out the news about candra and then came the "slow + no livescore" website... I was just too frustrated...But the website was pretty update with the news..though not the livescores...
Im sad beyond words...Candra really deserves the trip to Athens...

Difficult choice for Indonesian officials.

The fact that Chandra/Halim won last Dec Copenhagen Masters (which has no Olympic point) probably would complicate matter

Difficult choice for Indonesian officials.

The fact that Chandra/Halim won last Dec Copenhagen Masters (which has no Olympic point) probably would complicate matter

Can you please explain what do you mean?Im not very familiar with the whole ranking system for the Olympics... And how come some tournaments are not counted??Thanks....

I think it's more fair to say that Candra has got his gold medal, it's now Sigit's chance.

Can you please explain what do you mean?Im not very familiar with the whole ranking system for the Olympics... And how come some tournaments are not counted??Thanks....


I am not so sure how to count the points but some tournaments are not included.

This might be Trikus last Olympic but Chandra and Halim might be still around 4 yrs later.

I am not so sure how to count the points but some tournaments are not included.

This might be Trikus last Olympic but Chandra and Halim might be still around 4 yrs later.

I dont think candra and halim will still be around during the 2008 Olympics...
Candra is 29 and halim is 28 this year...It should be the end of their career... :( :( Poor poor candra... :(

Copenhagen Masters is an invitational tournament which only involves a very limited number of players, usually the top, and thus ranking points are not given.

Chandra got medal olympic and consistent player,
Sigit talented n young player and thus is a must,
Halim is good although not as good as Chandra,
Trikush the most experienced one, that's why he has to go to Olympic.

Either Chandra or Trikush has to be with Sigit to Athens.
Actually there are all can go..
But Luluk/Alvent can't be blamed for being there and qualified.

ssshhhh.......:confused:

Chandra got medal olympic and consistent player,
Sigit talented n young player and thus is a must,
Halim is good although not as good as Chandra,
Trikush the most experienced one, that's why he has to go to Olympic.

Either Chandra or Trikush has to be with Sigit to Athens.
Actually there are all can go..
But Luluk/Alvent can't be blamed for being there and qualified.

ssshhhh.......:confused:

Sigit is just as old as Candra and can't be anymore experienced than he already is because he probably won't even be around next year.

Is it still possible that candra/halim will be selected??? Based on Flandi/Eng Hian's performance yesterday which is a huge letdown, do you think they will pick candra/halim over them???Or is the list already submitted in and there is no turning back???