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Justian seeks more respect for badminton

Justian Suhandinata, an Indonesian candidate for the Badminton World Federation (BWF) presidency, promised to support the sport at the Olympics as well as champion it to be considered a more dignified sport

Musthofid (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, December 21, 2012

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Justian seeks more respect for badminton

J

ustian Suhandinata, an Indonesian candidate for the Badminton World Federation (BWF) presidency, promised to support the sport at the Olympics as well as champion it to be considered a more dignified sport.

He disclosed his interest in the BWF top position on Thursday but the decision to run for the May election, he said, had not been taken until he learned that the incumbent president Kang Young-joong would not seek a third term.

“Queries about my interest were raised as early as a year ago, but I said I would not step forward for it as long as an Asian still held the post, until Kang said in Bangkok three weeks ago that he would not run for the third term because of personal reasons,” he said.

Justian was accompanied by 1996 Olympic men’s doubles gold medalist Ricky Subagja, who is head of media relations in the recently installed board of Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI).

It will be Justian’s second attempt to gain the BWF’s top post, which he lost out on in 2001 to Korn Dabbaransi of Thailand.

He looked more confident this time round and said that he had received support from a number of the world’s main badminton countries including China, Japan, Thailand and India.

Support is also expected to come from the American federation through Justian’s pairing with Paisan Rangsikitpho as deputy president candidate. Rangsikitpho is the incumbent deputy president.

“With this support I will take the candidacy challenge,” he said. “We will also lobby Africa and Oceania’s associations.”

Candidate registration will close on Feb. 28, 2013 with the election scheduled for the following May in Kuala Lumpur. This will coincide with the Sudirman Cup, a mixed team competition named after an Indonesian badminton figure.

Justian said he did not know who else would run for the position.

“I only know that the head of BAM [Badminton Association of Malaysia] seemed to be interested although he said he would rather wait and see,” he said.

Speaking about his possible program, he said he would carry on with the on-track program while upholding the sport for future Olympics.

Badminton was played for the first time as an Olympic sport in Barcelona in 1992, its place in the world’s quadrennial sporting showcase faced possible review from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to its uneven distribution of competitiveness among the participating countries — Chinese players dominate almost all tournaments.

Marginal development, particularly between Asia and Europe on one side and the other continents on the other side, has become Justian’s concern.

He said he would promote a training program for 1,000 players from low-rated countries in a host country that had good facilities; the training cost would be taken up by the world’s body.

Justian is currently a member of the BWF council meeting. He was vice president to Lu Shenrong of China between 1998 and 2001 before he embarked on his previous attempt at the presidency.

He also said he was keen to improve badminton on the IOC rankings.

“When it was first at the Olympics, badminton was ranked 26th. Currently it is between 16 and 17,”
he said.

He singled out athletics and swimming as the highest ranked sports and as such it meant the sports are entitled to more donation funds from the IOC.

“As candidates, we believe we have the experience, expertise and passion to propel badminton to even greater heights.”

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