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Badminton: Youngsters Asked to Ease Vets’ Burden
Ami Afriatni | January 31, 2012

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Simon Santoso will lead Indonesia’s Thomas Cup team, a move that could signal the first step in the country’s long-delayed shift to a new generation.

Simon will assume the No. 1 men’s singles spot previously held by Taufik Hidayat, who will move to No. 2. Asian qualifying for the men’s team tournament takes place Feb. 13 to 19 in Macau.

“It’s time for Simon to take a greater responsibility as the team spearhead. He will be facing the No. 1 players from different countries and that will sharpen his mentality,” Taufik said on the sidelines of practice at the Indonesian Badminton Federation’s (PBSI) national training center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, on Monday.

Indonesia was drawn into Group B of Thomas Cup qualifying alongside India, Singapore and Macau. It opens against host nation Macau on Feb. 13, followed by Singapore the next day and India on Feb. 15.

Taufik, who has played on the national team since 1996, said his position at No. 2 was good for him because it would ease some of the pressure on him, allowing him to play more freely.

The rest of Indonesia’s Thomas Cup team has a similar look. The younger shuttlers will assume leading roles with the more experienced competitors providing backup.

In men’s doubles, Bona Septano and Mohammad Ahsan will be the No. 1 duo as they make their first appearance as the country’s leading pair. The more experienced Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan will play at No. 2 and Alvent Yulianto Chandra and Hendra Aprida Gunawan at No. 3.

Thomas Cup ties include three singles matches and two doubles matches.

“Kido and Hendra’s as well as Alvent and Hendra Aprida’s position is better than Bona and Ahsan’s. As experienced players, they will face the second and third teams of other countries. It will be easier for them to win,” men’s doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi said.

Ahsan said he was still recovering from injuries to his right hand and right thigh he sustained during last month’s Malaysia Open Super Series, though he was confident he would be ready for qualifying.

Christian Hadinata, coordinator for Indonesia’s Thomas Cup and Uber Cup teams, called on the shuttlers to stay confident in the face of tough competition.

“Whoever we draw, we have to be ready. We know the opponents and they know us,” Christian said. He also said Indonesia’s men’s doubles team were still considered among the best in the world.