Here's my take on Indo's squad..
Pardon all if the topic has gone a bit off with the original thread topic:
Here's my opinion..
Regarding the MD, this is PBSI's main forte. Personally, i don't know how PBSI was able to "continue" their MD dominance esp. after Rexy/Ricky retired(mid 90s), but perhaps, PBSI should go that route now if they are not..I know Rexy partnered with Tony before, just before retiring. But how about Candra/Sigit??Have they been partnered from the very first get go??..
And i'm wondering, esp. with quite a large gap in age between the 1st and 2nd and even 3rd team, how will they improve on their standard or quality of play. I understand the 2 young pairs are showing improvements, but they are still far. If Candra/Sigit and Flandy/Eng Hian say call it quits in 1 or 2 yrs., who will the new young pairs sparred with??..I know Luluk/Alven are the ones PBSI is counting on to continue after Candra/Sigit, but they are still finding their niche..But after them??..
badMania said:
Well, I can say that for men's doubles and perhaps mixed doubles, Team Indonesia does have some pretty good players. I have confidence in Hendra Gunawan/Joko Riyadi who have been turning up some good wins since end of last year. It is time for them to be promoted to the first team next year. Meanwhile, Yoga Ugikasah/Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki had their best results so far, a quarter-final placing in a 3* tournament with victory over Jung Jae Sung/Han Sang Hoon. This pair + Rian Sukmawan/Rendra Wijaya will constitute the 2nd team and they should be involved in the satellite + those 1* to 3* WGP tourneys.
Hmm, i know XD is not one of PBSI main forte. But i think their XD squad also need a revamped lineup. As we all can see, during the last 2 tourneys at China Open and HK Open, the pair of Nova/Butet weren't able to even reach the Semi-Finals. Yet they are the World Champs. I guess, when all said and done and with all the heavy weight pairs are in town, they are not up to the challenge yet..Devin/Vita(who was Nova's partner) still need more experience playing together..After them??..
For mixed, Devin/Vita has shown that they deserve more chance to go to the higher rated tourneys. They will fight with Anggun/Yunita to see who's better able to accompany Nova/Butet in the first team. Meanwhile, Rizal/Endang will remain in the 2nd team. As reported by Bola, it was unfortunate that Muhd Rizal broke his finger in a soccer match! Will it affect his career...we shall await.
I will hold off making any comments on these 2 fields, knowing that these 2 fields are arguably and probably the weakest links in PBSI. Esp. for WS, they are still far off, no matter what happened or even with a few 1st place finishes in smaller tourneys recently.
As for WD, yes, concur Jo/Greysia is their "top" WD pair as of now. After them??..
For women's singles and doubles, the standard of the first team is improving and the next year is important as we hope that some of them can break into the top 10. Jo/Greysia should be there....while Maria Kristin has also shown some glimpse that she should at least be in the top 20 by next year.
MS, regarding the MS, i also want to know how PBSI was able to continue their MS "success", esp. after ABKusuma, HArbi, Hendrawan, Joko to name a few. Hmm, let's see, Taufik said his next goal is the AE, the last title to accomplish for his personal feat. But we don't know how long he will stay in PBSI, say after he wins that?? It'll be a *real* concerned if he steps out of PBSI within 1-2 yrs., which he could do..
Sony seemed like he is almost there, everytime he plays in tournament. But for some reason, bam, mental block appears, if not his physique is not there. Simon...hmm, what can i say??..Perhaps they should start sending out the new young players and "invest" in them more..
It is in the men's singles that I am most concerned with. Except for Sony and Simon, Team Indonesia basically has no one to backup. I didn't see the youngsters (Fauzi Adnan, Tommy Sugiarto, etc) being involved in overseas tournaments.
Anyways, we shall see what and how PBSI have in tow for the upcoming 2006 yr. Many questions to be answered. They've said their main plan and focus next yr. will be on the upcoming Thomas and Uber Cup, esp. bringing back the Thomas Cup.
Also, sometimes i keep wondering, why in the world did PBSI cancelled all the MD, WS and WD players that have qualified for the World Championships, to come esp. after they all have qualified and ready to go?? Even for financial reason or goal oriented reason..As a matter of fact, they also made some last minute cancellation on a couple other tournaments..Until now, it still doesn't make sense, as even their senior pair of Flandy and EngHian were eliminated in the WC..Will this trend continue??..
And will they start sending their newer up-and-coming pairs or keep on playing their "senior" players..Personally, I think the former is the most logical and reasonable route that PBSI must take in the very near future, if not now..After all, their main opponents in the next 5 yrs. are the young and junior players from other countries who either have already jumpstart playing in the reg. international tourneys/competitions or just starting to
