JAKARTA - The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) welcomed this year's SEA Games with a lot of preparations, including sending the strongest team in the women's singles sector.
"We are ready to follow all the numbers and we have also presented our strengths, including fielding the strongest team in the women's singles," said PBSI's Head of Development and Achievement, Rionny Mainaky during a discussion with the Sports Development Commission, quoted from the NOC website, Sunday, January 9.
PBSI has strong reasons for making this decision. They view the biggest multi-sports in Southeast Asia as important, even though the grand design of national sports does not mention the SEA Games as an important target.
At the SEA Games, Malaysia and Thailand are still Indonesia's main rivals in the badminton branch.
"Although the Olympics is still our main goal, we will not take the SEA Games lightly. We will not send a weak team to the Olympics," he said.
Gregoria Mariska Tunjung is currently Indonesia's best women's singles player at 26. She is followed by Fitriani at 42, Ruselli Hartawan at 45, and a rising starlet, Putri Kusuma Wardani, at 72.
PBSI will be busy facing two adjacent events. Apart from the SEA Games on May 12-23 in Hanoi, there is also the 2022 Thomas Cup scheduled to take place on May 17-22.
However, Rionny said that the strength in the men's singles and doubles was very evenly distributed so there was no need to worry.
"We prepare young athletes for the Olympics. Young talent must follow their seniors and the only difference is experience. So I'm not worried," said Rionny.
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