I

ndonesia's debacle at the recent Thomas and Uber cups has taken a toll on the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), which has sent home several underperforming players from the national training center.

Familiar names like Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, Aprilia Yuswandari and Maria Febe Kusumastuti are among the 13 discarded players. Men single's coach, Joko Suprianto, has also been cast out.

The players are returning to their respective clubs, which include PB Jaya Raya Suryanaga, PB Djarum and PB Semen Gresik.

'It's about time the PBSI changes its strategy by recruiting young players who are hungry for honors to help the PBSI achieve its target at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,' PBSI chairman Gita Wirjawan said in a written statement sent to The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

'To fulfill the plan, we have also changed one of the coaches,' he added.

However, the PBSI will still facilitate the ousted players and coach for the upcoming BCA Indonesia Open Metlife BWF World Superseries Premier 2014, which will take place from June 17-22 at the Istora Senayan, Jakarta.

The PBSI has called up 16 new recruits. Among them is veteran Simon Santoso, who is returning to the national team after being sent home in January due to poor performance, partly caused by a nagging injury.

Besides Simon, the new recruits will be required to undergo a series of medical, physical and psychological tests.

Hendri Saputra, Simon's coach at his current club, the Tangkas Specs in Jakarta, as well as Hendrawan, a silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, are on the new coaching list for the training camp in Cipayung.

'The PBSI will also be calling Hendrawan, a former national player who is currently coaching a team in Malaysia,' the statement said.

Hendrawan moved to Malaysia in 1999 and became a coach for its second-tier national team.

The PBSI has been asking Hendrawan to return to Indonesia since last year, but so far Hendrawan has refused.

Indonesia's Thomas Cup team lost to Malaysia in the semifinals in New Delhi, India, two weeks ago, while their female compatriots failed to reach the semifinals after losing to their Indian opponents in the Uber Cup championship.

'If we want better results, we need to prepare from now on. We need to prepare the young players to achieve our future target, including the 2016 Thomas and Uber cups,' the PBSI's head of development, Rexy Mainaky, said.