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adminton is one of the most popular sports in Indonesia, along with soccer, that the country has been struggling to excel in after the glorious era of the past. But, our team’s poor performance in the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold 2011 last week and the prestigious All England competition the previous week has cast doubt on whether badminton remains as popular as it used to be.

The fact that fewer Indonesian singles and doubles players rank among the top five in the world rankings than in previous years is evidence of the decline. It is a worrying trend as the country of 235 million people has never fallen short of talents and competitions to scout for the best among the best.

Not just in individual tournaments but also in team events titles have eluded Indonesia for quite a long time. Indonesia last won the Thomas Cup men’s team championship in 2002 and its Uber Cup women’s equivalent in 1996.

Multi-sports events like the Olympic Games, the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games have saved Indonesia’s embarrassment, but with the competition standards in these events become tighter, many wonder if Indonesia can maintain its gold medal winning tradition.

Many had predicted the end of Indonesia’s superiority in the badminton world when golden couple Susi Susanti and Alan Budikusuma hung up their rackets a few years after their landmark Olympic wins in 1992.

No one can doubt the regeneration program that the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) has consistently run — and the dividends it has provided. The country’s declining performance, therefore, has gone beyond the control of the sports body and calls for contribution from all stakeholders.

The government appears to care greatly about the crisis plaguing the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), so why does it not show the same concern for the PBSI?

Many top figures, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, are listed as either as patrons or advisers to the PBSI for 2008-2012.

It is thus reasonable for badminton enthusiasts to ask these figures to take some responsibility and act to bring back Indonesia’s days of glory. Our bad years of badminton have been too long to endure.