Olympians skip Games to avoid injury

Musthofid ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Samarinda, East Kalimantan   |  Mon, 07/07/2008 10:31 AM  |  Sports

The badminton competition at the National Games in Samarinda starts Monday without Indonesia's top stars including Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat.

Taufik and other players preparing for the Olympics in Beijing are not taking part in the Games. The National Sports Council has recommended that the players should not represent their provinces to avoid injury ahead of the Olympics in August.

"We have got a letter from KONI, advising us against fielding the players in PON. They fear they might be injured," Mimi Irawan, an Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) official in charge of competitions, said on the sidelines of a training session at Palaran Badminton Hall on Sunday.

"KONI demands the players put the nation's interests before their provinces," Mimi said.

Besides Taufik, who will be looking to bounce back from a dip in performance, the Indonesian Olympic badminton team comprises Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Nova Widianto, Lilyana Natsir, Flandy Limpele, Vita Marissa, Markis Kido, Hendra Setiawan, Maria Kristin Yulianti, Luluk Hadiyanto and Alven Yulianto.

"In case of injury, the players would have little time for recovery with PON winding up on July 17. They will depart for Beijing on July 25," Mimi said.

Taufik, along with Flandy, were to play for West Java, which would have provided impetus to the contingent's medal chase.

"Their absence has affected the team's solidity. But we are optimistic about reaching the semifinals. Jakarta is very strong. Its players are strong and are on par with each other," West Java team's coach Herman Subarja said, while watching his players train inside the hall.

Monday's matches begin with the teams competition. The teams are split in two groups. In the men's division, Group A comprises Jakarta, East Kalimantan, West Java and North Sumatra, while Group B joined by Central Java, Papua, East Java, Banten and Jambi.

Jakarta, East Kalimantan, West Java are also locking horns with each other in Group P of the women's division with Southeast Sulawesi making up the group. Group Q consists of Central Java, Riau Islands, East Java, Bali and North Sumatra.

Although being deprived of the country's top players, the matches should still have the fire of competitiveness with the rest of national players around.

Jakarta is fielding men's singles Simon Santoso, Tommy Sugiarto and doubles specialist Joko Riyadi, the three making up the lineup of Indonesian Thomas Cup championship last May. Adriyanti Firdasari spearheads the all-former Uber Cup members five-strong squad, who are all former Uber Cup members, in the women's division.

With Taufik skipping the event, West Java counts its medal hunt on Hendra Gunawan, Joko's partner in national team, mixed doubles specialist Devin Lahardi along with 2002 All England runner-up Budi Santoso.

Rian Sukmawan and Muhammad Rijal will look to utilize their international experience to try to inspire their Central Java teammates.

Greysia Polii should play an ace for the North Sulawesi women's team, while Tony Gunawan, who has now been playing for the United States after he won a gold medal along with Candra Wijaya at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has been included in the men's lineup for East Java.

"I am questioning the eligibility of Tony playing for East Java at PON because he now plays for the United States in international competitions," Budi Nugroho, assistant coach of Jakarta team, said.

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