London Olympics preparation: Indonesia decides to send sparring partners for its shuttlers
The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) has announced to send sparring partners for its shuttlers in preparation of London Olympics which will be in full swing from July 28, 2012.
The national squad for the mega event is leaving on July 22, a week before the race begins, to adjust with the climate and have good practice sessions before the competition.
It seems PBSI will leave no stone unturned to elevate country’s chances for medals in the prestigious event.
The athletic development chief of PBSI, Hadi Nasri confirmed that national body has decided to send extra players to London just to give a good practice run to their compatriots.
He said, “We really hope to have more players qualify, possibly in doubles ... but due to the team’s needs, we will bring more players to London as the squad’s sparring partners.”
According to Olympic rules, the Singles events will see top 38 shuttlers of the world in their respective rankings while the Doubles categories will feature top 16 teams.
Indonesia is hoping to bank on former World and Olympic Champion, Taufik Hidayat and Simon Santoso in Men’s Singles event while the duo Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano in Men’s Doubles category.
In Women’s category, female duo Greysia Polii–Meiliana Jauhari has fair chances to represent the country while reigning All England champions Tontowi Ahmad–Liliyana Natsir will be biggest hope in the Mixed Doubles event.
Female singles experts Maria Febe Kusumastuti, Adrianti Firdasari and Aprilia Yuswandari are roped in a tight qualification tussle and May 3 world rankings will decide the ultimate participants of the Olympics.
Hadi Nasri looked satisfied over Indonesian shuttlers’ stable position in rankings during qualification period but he declared that selectors will be closely watching their performances in coming tournaments.
He said, “We probably will have nine shuttlers qualified for the Olympics: one in mixed doubles, one in men’s doubles, one in women’s doubles, two in men’s singles and one in women’s singles. We will see the development of each shuttler in a few months.”
A nation can field a maximum of two shuttlers only if their Singles players are in top 16 while two doubles teams will participate if they fall in top eight couples of the world otherwise only one spot will be given to that nation.
Now Indonesian shuttlers have two last chances, Badminton Asia Championships and India Open, to elevate their world rankings.
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