R

span class="caption" style="width: 468px;">Rudy Hartono. JP/P.J. LeoTwenty Indonesian shuttler heroes and heroines expressed their sadness on Monday over the team’s worst ever failure in the recent Thomas and Uber Cup, demanding that the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) act to save badminton in Indonesia.

“The failure was really shocking and obviously disappointed most Indonesians, including former shuttlers like ourselves. It is hard to admit that Indonesia, which used to be a superior country [in badminton], has fallen this low,” said former shuttler Joko Supriyanto at a media gathering in the Hotel Atlet Century in Central Jakarta on Monday.

The Indonesian Thomas Cup team failed to reach the event’s semifinals for the first time ever in the team’s history last week, after losing 3-0 to Japan in the Thomas and Uber Cup 2012 in Wuhan, China. Unfortunately, the Uber Cup team also experienced the same shocking defeat.

“Amid such a situation, we urge the PBSI to be more responsible by conducting a serious evaluation of the failure and announce the results of the evaluation to the public.

“We believe that poor preparation mostly played a part in the Indonesian team’s loss. Therefore, we request the PBSI fix its unfavorable system used to manage Indonesian badminton … PBSI has produced improper policies because of not having ‘the right man in the right place’,” added Joko, who has helped the nation win three consecutive Thomas Cup titles in 1994, 1996 and 1998.

Joko further added that the former Indonesian shuttlers’ community also urged the PBSI to evaluate the overall performance of foreign coach Li Mao of China following his unfruitful touch to the nation’s singles shuttlers.

“Indonesian badminton will face tougher challenges in the future. Therefore, we are suggesting that all Indonesian badminton officials appoint a better leader, who can creatively answer those challenges, in November’s chief election,” he said.

Legend Rudy Hartono said that the gathering, organized spontaneously by the former shuttlers, was “part of our efforts to help fix the broken Indonesian badminton team”.

“I really hope that [Indonesian badminton] can still survive … but by having this kind of situation, I truly think that the end is near,” said Rudy, who led the nation in winning four consecutive Thomas Cup titles in 1970, 1973, 1976 and 1979.

Former shuttler Ivana Lie said that she would immediately deliver the results of Monday’s gathering
to PBSI.

“Afterward, we plan to take the issue to the House of Representatives’ Commission X on youth affairs and sports, as well as to the Youth and Sports Ministry,” said the 1982’s Asian Games gold medalist, who is currently a member of ministerial staff.

Besides the three heroes and heroines, other former shuttlers who attended Monday’s meeting included three-time All England champion in men’s singles Lim Swie King and Barcelona Olympians Susi Susanti in women’s singles and Alan Budikusuma in men’s singles.