indra
11-27-2006, 02:16 AM
I found an article from the Jakarta Post
Despite poor show, badminton remains Indonesia's backbone
Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Its shine is dimming but badminton remains the biggest hope for the country to extend its Asian Games gold medal winning streak.
Even with a modest target of four gold medals, national shuttlers are tipped to contribute two golds in the men's and mixed doubles.
Such a target, however, maybe too ambitious in view of the shuttlers' poor showing in recent tournaments.
Doubles coordinator Christian Hadinata said that although national mixed doubles of Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa managed to win the Japan Open, beating compatriots Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir, the result was incomparable to the shuttlers' failure in the World Badminton Championships in Madrid in September where defending champions Taufik Hidayat and Nova/Lilyana had been expected to reclaim their titles.
"We really hope for a good result at the Asian Games as a year-end gift," he said. "The Asian Games is like a mini world championships with Asia's best shuttlers from China, South Korea and Malaysia and dark horses from Thailand and Singapore gather to prove who is the best in the continent.
"Winning golds at the Asian Games is like proving that we still exist on the world stage."
Indonesia is waiting for the Asian Badminton Confederation's response over its protest on the men's team drawing. The drawing divided the nine participating countries into three polls, unlike the usual two, and Indonesia is put in Group A along with powerhouse China and India. South Korea and Malaysia are top seeded in Group B and C, respectively.
Winners in each group will automatically earn semifinal slots while runners-up will have to fight for the remaining berth.
"We know that all four countries of Indonesia, China, South Korea and Malaysia have an equal chance in the men's team to reach the final," Christian said. "Such a policy should help boost our shuttlers performance to get into the last four."
Indonesia lost the men's team gold to South Korea in Busan Asiad four years ago but won in the men's singles and men's doubles, which were two of the country's four golds. In the 1998 Bangkok Asiad, Indonesia won the gold from the men's team and men's doubles of Ricky Soebagja/Rexy Mainaky as two of the six golds earned by national athletes.
While coaches and officials were concerned about such a decision, athletes were more concerned about their chances of winning a gold.
Vita, who is back to competition after an injury hiatus, said she was worried about her chances of a gold without her regular partner. Vita will team up with men's doubles specialist Alvent Yulianto, who usually partners Luluk Hadiyanto, as the Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee (DAGOC) only allows each country to enlist eight shuttlers, forcing the Badminton Association of Indonesia to drop Flandy from the squad.
"It's going to be hard for me to win a medal without my own partner. I guess Alvent would have to focus more on his specialty, which is expected to win a gold," she said.
Alvent said he would be ready to compete in both the men's and mixed doubles, saying that he and Luluk have improved their form.
Coach Herry Imam Pierngadi praised Luluk's hard work.
"Luluk is working hard to adjust his playing style to the new 21-point rally system. I think they both are ready to fight and serve as a backup to our best hope of Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan," he said.
This month's national championships were a concern for the coach, saying it slightly disturbed the players' preparation.
"But I only need to maintain Kido/Hendra's physical condition. They are ready for the Games," Imam added.
Hendra was upbeat about their debut at the Dec. 1-15 quadrennial event.
"We have made good preparations. There's nothing to worry about," he said.
While all eyes are on the men's and mixed doubles sector, men's singles defending champion Taufik Hidayat was low profile.
Coach Mulyo Handoyo has been satisfied with the talented player's preparation.
"He doesn't mind being an underdog. But I do hope that he will use his status to boost his motivation," he said. "His preparation is much better compared to the world championships."
Taufik lost to Chinese Chen Hong in the third round at the worlds. He will face a tough challenge from world champion Lin Dan of China and Malaysia's hopeful Lee Chong Wei. But Taufik has his own motivation.
"I want to win another Asiad gold. It's for my father-in-law," he said in last month's interview. His father-in-law is the National Sports Council chairman Agum Gumelar who will step down from his post next year.
Indonesia is being more realistic in the women's sector, setting no hope at all in both teams and individual events.
"Actually, we are far under China but compared to South Korea and Malaysia we have equal chances. It's just a matter of fighting spirit," Christian said.
Adrianti Firdasari's title at this month's Dutch Open -- after years of title drought since the retirement of Susy Susanti, albeit in two-star tournament -- is expected to help boost the team's spirit. "The Dutch Open victory is a small step with a huge impact," coach Hendrawan said. "It proves that our girls also have the potential and I hope they prove it by fighting their best in the Asian Games."
Despite poor show, badminton remains Indonesia's backbone
Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Its shine is dimming but badminton remains the biggest hope for the country to extend its Asian Games gold medal winning streak.
Even with a modest target of four gold medals, national shuttlers are tipped to contribute two golds in the men's and mixed doubles.
Such a target, however, maybe too ambitious in view of the shuttlers' poor showing in recent tournaments.
Doubles coordinator Christian Hadinata said that although national mixed doubles of Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa managed to win the Japan Open, beating compatriots Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir, the result was incomparable to the shuttlers' failure in the World Badminton Championships in Madrid in September where defending champions Taufik Hidayat and Nova/Lilyana had been expected to reclaim their titles.
"We really hope for a good result at the Asian Games as a year-end gift," he said. "The Asian Games is like a mini world championships with Asia's best shuttlers from China, South Korea and Malaysia and dark horses from Thailand and Singapore gather to prove who is the best in the continent.
"Winning golds at the Asian Games is like proving that we still exist on the world stage."
Indonesia is waiting for the Asian Badminton Confederation's response over its protest on the men's team drawing. The drawing divided the nine participating countries into three polls, unlike the usual two, and Indonesia is put in Group A along with powerhouse China and India. South Korea and Malaysia are top seeded in Group B and C, respectively.
Winners in each group will automatically earn semifinal slots while runners-up will have to fight for the remaining berth.
"We know that all four countries of Indonesia, China, South Korea and Malaysia have an equal chance in the men's team to reach the final," Christian said. "Such a policy should help boost our shuttlers performance to get into the last four."
Indonesia lost the men's team gold to South Korea in Busan Asiad four years ago but won in the men's singles and men's doubles, which were two of the country's four golds. In the 1998 Bangkok Asiad, Indonesia won the gold from the men's team and men's doubles of Ricky Soebagja/Rexy Mainaky as two of the six golds earned by national athletes.
While coaches and officials were concerned about such a decision, athletes were more concerned about their chances of winning a gold.
Vita, who is back to competition after an injury hiatus, said she was worried about her chances of a gold without her regular partner. Vita will team up with men's doubles specialist Alvent Yulianto, who usually partners Luluk Hadiyanto, as the Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee (DAGOC) only allows each country to enlist eight shuttlers, forcing the Badminton Association of Indonesia to drop Flandy from the squad.
"It's going to be hard for me to win a medal without my own partner. I guess Alvent would have to focus more on his specialty, which is expected to win a gold," she said.
Alvent said he would be ready to compete in both the men's and mixed doubles, saying that he and Luluk have improved their form.
Coach Herry Imam Pierngadi praised Luluk's hard work.
"Luluk is working hard to adjust his playing style to the new 21-point rally system. I think they both are ready to fight and serve as a backup to our best hope of Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan," he said.
This month's national championships were a concern for the coach, saying it slightly disturbed the players' preparation.
"But I only need to maintain Kido/Hendra's physical condition. They are ready for the Games," Imam added.
Hendra was upbeat about their debut at the Dec. 1-15 quadrennial event.
"We have made good preparations. There's nothing to worry about," he said.
While all eyes are on the men's and mixed doubles sector, men's singles defending champion Taufik Hidayat was low profile.
Coach Mulyo Handoyo has been satisfied with the talented player's preparation.
"He doesn't mind being an underdog. But I do hope that he will use his status to boost his motivation," he said. "His preparation is much better compared to the world championships."
Taufik lost to Chinese Chen Hong in the third round at the worlds. He will face a tough challenge from world champion Lin Dan of China and Malaysia's hopeful Lee Chong Wei. But Taufik has his own motivation.
"I want to win another Asiad gold. It's for my father-in-law," he said in last month's interview. His father-in-law is the National Sports Council chairman Agum Gumelar who will step down from his post next year.
Indonesia is being more realistic in the women's sector, setting no hope at all in both teams and individual events.
"Actually, we are far under China but compared to South Korea and Malaysia we have equal chances. It's just a matter of fighting spirit," Christian said.
Adrianti Firdasari's title at this month's Dutch Open -- after years of title drought since the retirement of Susy Susanti, albeit in two-star tournament -- is expected to help boost the team's spirit. "The Dutch Open victory is a small step with a huge impact," coach Hendrawan said. "It proves that our girls also have the potential and I hope they prove it by fighting their best in the Asian Games."