Vita Marissa, who paired with Flandy Limpele to reach the mixed doubles semifinal at the Beijing Olympics, will play with a new partner in the next two tournaments, the Indonesian Badminton Association announced Thursday.
Vita, 27, and Flandy, 32, tuned up before the Olympics by winning the 2008 Asian Championship, but their failure to win a medal at the Games may have sealed the fate of their partnership.
"Due to the age factor, Flandy will no longer match up with Vita," mixed-doubles trainer Richard Mainaky said.
Vita will pair with Muhammad Rijal, who used to play with Greysia Polii.
"Vita needs a new partner to enhance her performance," Richard said. "Rijal is young and has potential. He put on a good performance during the Indonesian Super Series with Greysia but we also want to see how he goes with Vita."
The break-up of the Vita-Flandy pairing is part of the PBSI's move to field new pairings at next week's Chinese-Taipei Open 2008 badminton grand prix and at the Yonex Japan Super Series 2008, which runs from Sept. 16 to 21.
Beijing Olympics silver medalists Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir will remain together when they play the Japan Super Series.
"(The) Nova and Liliyana (pair) is a perfect mixed double's role model for new players. They are in their own class. Only a few pairs can beat them," Richard said.
Nova and Liliyana were close to adding Olympic gold to their world championship laurels, but they were beaten in the final by Korea's Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung.
Changes were also made to Indonesia's women's doubles pairings, with Greysia now teaming up with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari, Lita Nurlita with Endang Nursugianti, Jo Novita with Rani Mundiastuti, Nathalia Christine Poluakan with Nadya Melati and Yulianti with Devi Tika Permatasari.
The pairs are currently preparing to compete in the Chinese-Taipei Open.
Previously, Greysia shared the court with Jo, Nitya with Lita and Nathalia Christine with Yulianti, while youngsters Nadya and Devi are new pairs in the team.
"The lineup of new pairings is mainly for talent scouting purposes, as we rarely win in (these) events. However, it's just a trial. Hopefully we will have fixed pairs for the 2009 Southeast Asia Games and the 2010 Asian Games," women's double coach Aryono Miranat said.
"We'll see how those new doubles (pairs) perform in the next four tournaments. If any of them look good, then they may continue (together) for the big events," he added.
After the Chinese-Taipei Open and the Japan Super Series, Indonesia will send its players to the China Master's Super Series, which runs from Sept. 22 to 28 and to the Macau Grand Prix, which runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5.
Head coach Christian Hadinata said he urged the players to nurture their ambition for glory.
"If they want to win, they have to aim right. Don't get beaten so easily. Be ambitious; I really recommend they always show a greed for glory, especially when representing the nation," he said.
