0 Indonesia's Sponsor-Backed Shuttlers Ready for All England

With their financial security covered by sponsorship deals, Indonesia’s national badminton team players hope to be able to focus fully on competing at the upcoming All England Open. The competition, slated for March 5-10 at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena, is where the Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) is hoping to resume the revival in the national team’s fortunes. 

In the last All England meet, Indonesia claimed a lone title in the mixed doubles when Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir defeated Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl from Denmark 21-17, 21-19 in the final tie. That win ended a nine-year title drought for Indonesia at badminton’s most prestigious tournament. Liliyana said she was aware of the heavy pressure on her and Tontowi to retain the title this year. 

“We know that it’s harder to defend the title and all eyes will be on us. I’m sure our opponents are prepared, but I remain optimistic,” she said on Friday. “We have been undergoing intensive training for more than a month now. Tontowi has also received extra training from coach Richard Mainaky and it has given us more confidence.” 

While Tontowi and Liliyana are the Indonesian team’s biggest hope, the country is also expecting the men’s double pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan to have a good showing, following their recent form that saw them win the Malaysia Open title. “It’s great to have friends to share the pressure,” Liliyana said. “Mixed doubles is the backbone of the Indonesian team. 

With Ahsan and Hendra improving their form, we have at least two spearheads in our All England bid.” Gita Wirjawan, the president of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), said he had noticed a significant change among the shuttlers after they signed individual contracts with their sponsors. “I have received reports that they used to train twice a day. Now they train three times a day. They usually finished training at five in the afternoon, now it’s at nine at night,” Gita said.

source : the jakarta globe