Indonesia Starts Korean Exchange Badminton Training Program

Left to right : PBSI secretary general Anton Subowo, BWF chair of events Peter Tarcala, and chief executive director of BKA Kim Joong-Soo. (Photo Courtesy of PBSI)

Indonesian badminton players and administrators are determined to honor its pledge to promote the sport internationally despite a tight competition schedule.

After signing an agreement with Nigeria to help develop players in the African country as part of the Badminton World Federation’s Adoption Program, the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) signed an exchange program agreement with South Korea.

Under the agreement, PBSI and the Badminton Korea Association will establish an exchange program for shuttlers.

The program, which officially began on Friday, involves holding joint trainings for both junior and senior shuttlers, to be held in both countries in order to share experience in implementing sports sciences.

“This agreement is special for both associations as Indonesia and South Korea have the top teams in the world. I think both countries have good training systems and sharing them would be good for the youngsters,” said Kim Joong-Soo, chief executive director of BKA on Friday.

PBSI secretary general, Anton Subowo said it is an honor for the federation to cooperate with South Korea to support badminton development in both countries.

“Badminton is getting more competitive nowadays. It is no longer dominated by one country. But still, badminton belongs to Asia and we want to maintain it,” Anton said.

“This is just the beginning. We will work on something more in the future. We also have plans to work together with China.”

BWF chair of events Peter Tarcala said the world federation appreciates the initiative shown by both countries.

“It is a brilliant example in badminton development for the rest of the world. Hopefully more cooperation will follow, and not only among Asian countries. Congratulations to both of the associations,” Tarcala said.

PBSI international relations officer Bambang Roedyanto was also upbeat.

“With the program, we hope young shuttlers can earn a living and training experience abroad and they will learn how to live on their own and adapt themselves to new places and cultures,” he said.

By Jakarta Globe on 09:16 pm Jun 20, 2014

Men’s Doubles Pair Ready to Seek Redemption Following Japan Open Flop

Mohammad Ahsan (left) and Hendra Setiawan (right. (Photo Courtesy of PBSI)

Top men’s doubles pair Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan are seeking to redeem themselves in the BCA Indonesia Open 2014 after failing to defend their title at last week’s Japan Open Superseries.

The reigning world champions are still reeling from the disappointment of losing to South Korea’s Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong in the Japan Open final, but  both are ready to make up for their mishap at the $750,000 Jakarta tournament that kicked off on Tuesday.

“We had so much to learn from our defeat as we prepared for the Indonesia Open. We hope to clinch our first title since we were paired in 2012. We are ready for that,” Hendra said.
The tournament’s top seeds will face Denmark’s Mads Conrad Petersen and Mads Pieler Kolding in the first round.

Indonesia also has high expectations for Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir, who secured their third All-England title in March, cementing them as the country’s primary hope for a title.

“In addition to Ahsan and Hendra, Tontowi and Liliyana are hoped to clinch the mixed doubles title and end the country’s title drought at the Indonesia Open,” said Indonesia’s team manager, Ricky Soebagdja. “This is their chance to prove themselves as world-class shuttlers.”

Additionally, the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) expects the junior members of the national team to step up their game and follow the example set by 18-year-old Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, who — paired with  Arya Maulana Aldiartama and Alfian Eko Prasetya — secured a bronze medal at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships of 2013 and 2012 respectively.

With teammate Greysia Polii, Kevin earned a spot in the mixed doubles main draw by defeating Malaysian Mohd. Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid and Soong Fie Cho, 21-11, 16-21, 24-22, followed by a 19-21,21-18, 21-15 win over compatriots Fran Kurniawan and Shendy Puspa Irawati.

By Ami Afriatni on 08:16 pm Jun 17, 2014

Tommy Faces No. 1 Lee In Japan Open Quarters

Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto is through to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open Superseries badminton tournament in Tokyo, where he faces a stern test in the form of Lee Chong Wei, the Malaysian world number one.

Tommy, the fifth seed and only Indonesian in the men’s singles draw, moved into the quarters with a 21-12, 21-18 win over home favorite Sho Sasaki in the second round on Thursday, to set up a clash with top-seeded Lee.

Tommy stormed out of the gates at the start of the game, at one point leading by as much as 11 points from Sasaki, before closing out the first game 21-12.

Sasaki bounced back in second game and leveled the score at 17 all, but Tommy kept his nerve to win the match.

In the men’s doubles, Angga Pratama and Ryan Agung Saputra booked their berth in the quarterfinals with a win over Michael Fuchs and Johannes Schoettler of Germany, 5-21, 21-11, 21-18.

“We’re quite surprised [to lose] the first game. We tried to shake off their pressure in second game and we managed to control the game and beat them,” Angga said as quoted by badmintonindonesia.org, the official website of the Indonesian Badminton Association, or PBSI.

Top seeds and defending champions Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan also made into the quarters of the men’s doubles after a 21-23, 21-12, 21-15 victory over Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda of Japan. The reigning world champions will play seventh seeds Hoon Thien How and Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia.

Mixed doubles pair Muhammad Rijal and Vita Marissa also advanced in their draw with a 21-14, 21-12 win over Thailand’s Nipithon Puangpuapech and Puttita Suparijakul to set up a clash with top seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei of China.

By Jakarta Globe on 02:42 pm Jun 13, 2014