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.
Coach tips young guns to become next world force
Words of support: A local fan writes a message of support for Indonesian players on a banner set up at the tournament venue on Thursday
Change Size
Words of support: A local fan writes a message of support for Indonesian players on a banner set up at the tournament venue on Thursday.(JP/DON) (JP/DON)
W
span class="inline inline-center">Words of support: A local fan writes a message of support for Indonesian players on a banner set up at the tournament venue on Thursday.(JP/DON)
The recent success of Indonesia's youth players has been hailed as promising for the country's badminton future.
The Indonesian Badminton Association's (PBSI) program to accelerate the regeneration of its squad, particularly in the men's singles, is said to be bearing fruit as testified at the 2015 BCA Indonesia Open, which is underway at the Istora Senayan indoor stadium.
Most of the young guns who are expected to take the places of their outgoing seniors have proven their mettle in the US$800,000 tournament.
Earlier this year, the PBSI acknowledged it was in a state of crisis in terms of singles players, following the decision by Tommy Sugiarto and Simon Santoso to withdraw from the national training camp in Cipayung.
Debutants Jonatan Christie and Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, who had initially been expected to get to the main round of the tournament, have exceeded the target by advancing to the quarterfinals at the expense of world-class players such as Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand, Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei and 2005 champion Lee Hyun-il.
PBSI chairman Gita Wirjawan tweeted on his account @GWirjawan on Wednesday night: 'Indonesia's representatives in the second round [of the Indonesia Open] is getting more promising'.
Men's singles coach Henry Saputra was smiling after one of his protégés, Jonatan, secured his quarterfinal ticket on Thursday with a 21-17, 21-19 win over Hyun-il.
'Currently we have four players, Firman Abdul Kholik, Ihsan Maulana Mustofa, Jonatan Christie and Antony Sinisuka Ginting. They all have different styles. They have big potential,' he told journalists on Thursday.
He added that he had adjusted their training programs to meet superseries tournament level.
'You have witnessed it yourself. Athletes' main problem is mind-set and mentality. We can accept defeats only after putting up a fight,' he said.
He added that his proteges only needed more experience on the international stage to hone their skills and technique.
'I think in the next two years they will be our spearhead,' Henry said.
He added that he pinned high hopes on the four players, especially Jonatan and Ihsan, who currently sat 53rd and 83rd in the BWF world rankings, respectively.
'For Anthony it is a bit difficult as his rank is still beyond 160. I set a target for Jonatan and Ihsan so they will be able to play at the superseries level by 2016,' said Henry Saputra, himself a shuttler in the 1980s.
He revealed that the players' physical strength and stamina concerned him. 'The superseries players need to have good stamina as they often need to play for long matches. But as long as they have a positive mentality and a good technique, I think all other things will be easy,' he said.
Indonesia Open defending champion Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark expressed his eagerness to play against Indonesia's rising stars.
'I'd love to play the young Indonesians. It's good to see a new guy from Indonesia coming up,' he said.
