Jakarta: Rexy Mainaky, head of development and achievement of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) was not happy with Indonesia’s performance in the 2014 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals. He criticized the Indonesia shuttlers for lacking the enormous fighting spirit and edge needed to win the prestigious Thomas and Uber Cups.
Indonesia’s Thomas Cup team suffered a 0-3 lost to Malaysia in the semi-final, it was a huge blow to the Indonesia who was trying to win back the Thomas Cup which it last won in 2002. Its female shuttlers were also eliminated in the quarterfinals by host India 3-0 unexpectedly.
Rexy cited the poor physical and mental condition was the main reason for Indonesia’s defeat. “We have a group of experienced shuttlers, they are used to the competitive atmosphere as they have won numerous prestigious badminton tournaments, but I don’t know why they still feel tense in the crucial moment? I know how it feels when I was in their shoes, but I was able to absorb the pressure especially during crunch time. Therefore, I won’t accept pressure as an excuse,” said Rexy.
“We need players who are fighters and have a strong will like those Japanese players, such as Takuma Ueda, who had never won a super series tournament but was so determined to fight until the end to clinch the winning point for Japan,” he added. Rexy said he is going to conduct a thorough evaluation of the current roster as a result of their disappointing performance.
The Japanese men’s team made history by defeating Malaysia 3-2 to win the Thomas Cup.
