TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Simon faces dismissal after back-to-back early exits
It looks like Simon Santoso may be going home early from the national training camp after failing to reach the semifinals at the Korean and Malaysian Open Super Series badminton championships
Change Size
I
t looks like Simon Santoso may be going home early from the national training camp after failing to reach the semifinals at the Korean and Malaysian Open Super Series badminton championships.
In a recent national team reshuffle, the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) had kept the under-performing former standout on the roster, but only conditionally.
He had been required to reach at least the semis in both Malaysia and South Korea to secure his place on the team.
Simon fell to Chen Long of China 11-21, 12-21 in the opening round in Seoul, followed by an early exit from the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur after losing 21-14, 22-24, 19-21 to Gao Huan, also from China, in Tuesday's qualifying round.
Rexy Mainaky, PBSI's official in charge of development affairs, said Simon's time was up.
'I must be committed to my [previous] statement. Given that he's not exactly young anymore, rather than retaining Simon for [the lower-tier] Challenge or Grand Prix tournaments, we would do better to focus on developing young players,' he said on Tuesday, according to badmintonindonesia.org.
'When he returns to Jakarta, we will sit down together, talk and let him know that what we have expected from him is not happening,' said Rexy, who was formerly on the world's number one doubles team with Ricky Subagdja.
Simon, who was born in Tegal, Central Java, on July 29, 1985, said he was prepared to accept the consequences of his disappointing performance.
'I did try hard at the two tournaments to reach the semis. But it came out below expectations,' he said.
'I leave it up to PBSI. Whatever decision will be respected.'
Simon, who had climbed as high as number three in the world rankings, last tasted success in the top flight when he won the Indonesian Open Super Series in 2012.
However, he has since fallen off due to a parotitis illness he contracted at the end of 2012 and a thigh injury he sustained in 2013 and from which he hasn't been able to recover.
The injury forced him to skip a number of tournaments, which caused him to drop out of the top 100 in the world rankings. He was relegated to lower-level tournaments, with his best achievement coming when he won the Indonesian Open Grand Prix Gold 2013.
'If given the chance, I still want [to be in the national camp]. I'm optimistic to move up again. I feel that I still can cut it in the world of badminton,' he said.
'If I have to leave the national team, I will keep on playing. I'll know where I stand within the next year at least, to better sort out my future.'
