PBSI Head Implements Strict Guidelines to Improve Badminton Performance

Wimbo Satwiko

With the uphill task of reclaiming Indonesia’s golden era in badminton, president of the Indonesia Badminton Association Gita Wirjawan wants to bring order to his agency and the Cipayung National Training Camp.

Gita stamped his authority by streamlining the association known as PBSI while giving new development director Rexy Mainaky full authority to arrange his program and send shuttlers to tournaments.

“I gave Rexy full authority in development. He will be responsible to provide anything needed to improve shuttlers’ performance. He has developed a business plan and arranged the budget to support his plan. I approved it and the finance department has to support him. No questions,” Gita said on Thursday.

He added that the PBSI previously had 12 departments, but the development department didn’t have the authority to send shuttlers to tournaments.

“The most common problem was shuttlers couldn’t go to tournaments as their ticket wasn’t issued. Officials from other departments preferred to send other shuttlers, as he or she was close to the official. It won’t happen again,” Trade Minister Gita said.

Gita and Rexy also pushed for stricter criteria for shuttlers and coaching staff. Rexy has assessed shuttlers’ performance and he will decide who will stay in the training camp and who will be booted from Cipayung. Rexy has yet to announce the list as he went to Manila to settle personal matter, but Gita hinted that there are around 14 shuttlers who will get booted from the training camp.

“There will be new faces in the coaching staff. Basri Yusuf will lead regional development. He has a good record as the Singapore national team head coach. Rexy called other former players abroad to return to Indonesia,” Gita said. “We will also give opportunity to shuttlers outside the training camp who have good performance.”

Bringing order back to the training camp is an important step that the PBSI will take, Gita said, adding that the days when shuttlers could leave the camp to enjoy nightlife are gone.

“In the old days, they could leave the camp after midnight and return home in the morning. That won’t happen again. I will install CCTV in the camp. The security officers will be given their orders, and I asked Rexy to live in Cipayung,” he said.

With stricter selection criteria for both shuttlers and coaching staff, the PBSI promised to provide them better compensation and bonuses if they can deliver victories. But they may not enjoy as comfortable a life as in the old days, as they will be evaluated periodically, Gita said.

Previously, the PBSI split 50 percent of sponsors’ contract values with shuttlers equally. It meant top-tier and low-tier shuttlers received the same percentage.

“In the new scheme, athletes will get more. As an example, they will get 90 percent of the contract value while PBSI gets 10 percent. I will get another source to pay official and coaching staff salaries,” Gita said.