Susy also mentioned her successor, “Miracle Girl” Mia Audina, who began training at 14. Mia won Olympic silver medals in Athens and Atlanta.

“In my experience, recruiting talent by the time they are 18 is just a little too late because they are more difficult to mold and direct, both in terms of their mind-set and technique,” said the 40-year-old mother of three.

The 1993 World Champion pointed out Thailand’s achievements in developing young shuttlers, as seen in their current three-time world junior champion Ratchanok Intanon, who is 16.

Improving how the PBSI runs its talent-scouting program is neccessary, Susy added, saying that the talent did not always need to be those who won every tournament.

“Sharp observation and planned talent-scouting is crucial. We can see from their drive, motivation, attitude, technique, intelligence and posture,” she said.

However, the PBSI has their own explanation.

“We never put an age limit on recruitment, actually. But Susy and Mia were exceptional cases,” PBSI head of athletic development Hadi Nasri told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

“Our main sources of talent are the clubs, and we have been urging them to produce younger talent, but we have not yet found much young talent already displaying the exceptional quality as Susy and Mia did,” Hadi said, citing the youngest shuttlers currently in the national camp were 18-year-olds Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah and Suci Rizki Andini, who play in the women’s doubles.

Susy criticized the singles and doubles specialization as a waste of talent.

“In the old days, even the adult shuttlers played in the singles and doubles. Applying specialization since a junior age is just a waste of talent. Once they can’t perform in their specialty, they will be sacked.”

“Playing in two or three sectors at once is a natural way to strengthen the players’ physique and to learn to keep focus for every match. The more often they play matches, they will also get used to the pressure, both from opponents and spectators,” Susy said, recalling how, during her golden years, she played women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

“When I was a junior, I played up to six matches a day because the semifinals and the finals were held on the same day. I won in all three sectors. It was an effective way of training for me, although I passed out the next day,” Susy said with a laugh.

Susy also highlighted the importance staying injury-free, as it has been an issue among Indonesia’s ace shuttlers such as Greysia Polii, Adriyanti Firdasari and Sony Dwi Kuncoro.

“Regretfully, some of our national shuttlers since they were juniors have been hampered by injuries. Training sessions, for example, must be customized to the needs of each athlete,” Susy said, expressing her concern for 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Maria Kristin, whose performance afterward was clouded by years of injuries.

“Injury harms both the shuttler’s skills and mind. It is the homework for athletes and coaches to prevent injuries from happening,” Susy said.

With the upcoming 2012 London Olympics, where Indonesia hopes to emulate the golden glory that was pioneered in 1992 by Susy and her husband, Alan Budikusuma, Susy encouraged the country’s shuttlers to arm themselves with strong wills.

“Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir in the mixed doubles as well as Bona Septano and M. Ahsan in the men’s doubles both have great chances, but they need to work extra hard within the remaining six months. They have to realize that this opportunity will never come twice. Everything is up to them,” said Susy.

“Back then, in 1992, Alan was not top seeded; it was Ardy [B. Wiranata] who was mandated [by the PBSI] to win the gold. But Alan won the gold. I hope that story can inspire our current shuttlers, despite many who may have doubted [their ability].”

Popular

Kadin urges stability after Constitutional Court ruling

Jokowi says transition to new government to begi

BCA loan disbursement surges 17.1 percent yoy in first quarter