Rudi Hartono: Get Tough on The Young Players

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Eight-time All England champion Rudy Hartono has called for the Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) to get tougher on young players to push them to greater heights with the 2012 London Olympics looming.

“What makes today’s game different is that matches are more competitive now compared to years ago, so you have to work harder and not give up easily,” the 61-year-old veteran told a local newspaper at the PBSI’s 60th anniversary celebration.

“We won with minimal support from the PBSI. Now shuttlers have all the things that we didn’t have during our time,” he said, referring to improved facilities, coaching and monetary rewards.

Hartono, who won the world championship in 1980 and the prestigious All England championships seven consecutive times from 1968 to 1974, said in the past players were not allowed to return to the same tournament the next year if they lost.

“Those who are successful can be rewarded by entering them in more international tournaments, while those who fail must be grounded for some time so they’ll be able to work on their game and be motivated doing so,” he added. “If you’re 18 to 25 years old, that’s the perfect time to shine on the world stage so they shouldn’t waste their time.”

The qualification phase for London began on Wednesday at the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold, where Indonesia’s Angga Pratama and Rian Agung Saputra, runners-up in men’s doubles at the India Open, were competing to chalk up points.

Indonesia, a traditional badminton power behind top dogs China, aim to send the maximum number of players to London — three in each singles event and two pairs in each of the doubles events — to boost their gold hopes.