Which is your favourite in badminton?

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Shuttlers need to compete: Indra

Jason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

National badminton coach Indra Setiawan speaks during a training session at the youth centre in Bandar Seri Begawan. Picture: BT/Saifulizam

THE national badminton team finally has a leader. Indonesian Indra Setiawan took charge of the national badminton team last September and recently took the time to talk to The Brunei Times' Jason Thomas about himself, his impression as the country's coach and what he needs to improve the sport in Brunei.

Good evening. Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your coaching career?

I am 43-years-old and from South Sulawesi. I was the national coach of the Philippines from 2007 to 2009 and then handled the Mexico national team from January to July 2010. In 1995 I formed a club in Indonesia, Tunas Jaya, and I was the head coach there.

What can you tell me about your recent achievements as a coach?

I was in charge of three tournaments when I was in Mexico. The second was a national-level competition and I bettered the target of six gold medals by winning nine. I also helped the team to win three gold, two silver and four bronze medals during the 21st Central American and Caribbean Games last July.

Have you ever represented Indonesia as a player?

I didn't want to become a player because I was injured early in my career. I took a break from the game, got married in 1992 and I started back with coaching in 1999.

How did you find out about the position in Brunei?

I was informed by my sports contacts in Indonesia that Brunei's Department of Youth and Sports was looking for a badminton coach for the national team, so I submitted my biodata and profile. That was in early 2010 but I was already in Mexico in late 2009. Then last April I received word that the Department of Youth and Sports accepted my application.

What is the age group of the players in the current national set-up and what do you focus on during training?

The players here range from 13 to 19 years. We usually work on their technique, tactics and game plan.

How do you rate the level of badminton in Brunei compared to the Philippines and Mexico?

I think it's almost the same. I think this is because in all three countries they prioritise their studies over badminton. They feel there is no guarantee that they can earn a living playing badminton but they can have a good job if they study.

How has your first four months as coach here gone?

The most important thing here is time time for training. The players are all either in school or have jobs, so we have very little time to train. The players also need to compete in tournaments if not there is no use training. What I need is the time to shape them. As it is, we don't have morning sessions. I want training to be three hours, from three to six, but even that I can't get. Right now it's only two hours. In Indonesia and Malaysia the players train twice a day for four hours, so that is eight hours a day. Here we only have two, so how can we improve? If you don't work hard at badminton you can never progress. Sometimes I ask the players that miss training why didn't they come and they said they had work or extra-classes.

What else do you need?

I must have the support of all parties, the Department of Youth and Sports and BNBA you need to write that down! For me as a coach, the players here are talented, motivated and have the spirit. I can only make an impact if I have the right conditions. The players need chances to compete and sparring partners. I am sure I can get them sparring partners from Indonesia.

How important is it to get our players competing regularly?

Players will get bored and lose spirit if they only train. If they have competitions they have something to look forward to. We are wasting time if we only train. We need to have a goal and target certain tournaments. This way we can see the performance of not only the players but myself as the coach. Look at coach Wu (former national coach Wu Xue Kai whose contract expired early last year), he was here for 15 years but what came of it? We didn't play in any big tournaments or the Southeast Asian Games.

What events do the national shuttlers have to look forward to this year?

I am not sure what upcoming events there are in Brunei and abroad. I know we are not joining this year's SEA Games in Indonesia but I don't know why. There are many tournaments in Indonesia and Malaysia which we need to join because it will benefit our players. For them and for me, it will be useful in gauging performance.

Have you noticed any players that stand out?

I have seen a few skilled players but I know I have not seen all the active badminton players in Brunei yet. The picture of the talent pool here is not clear to me yet. But I know our players have what it takes to reach the standard of Malaysia and Indonesia, what remains to be seen is how to find time to train and join more tournaments.

Have you talked to the Department or the Brunei National Badminton Association (BNBA) about any of this?

I have already submitted reports to my coordinator Kifli Hj Jaafar Head of Sports Coaching and Development Unit (SCDU). I want to meet with the Department of Youth and Sports and the Brunei National Badminton Association (BNBA) to iron out a better programme so we can improve the level of the sport in Brunei. We have a meeting on Sunday to talk things over.

What do you plan on bringing forward during the meeting?

I need time and I need support, support to help get the players off school or work early so they can train. I need help in getting approval from the schools or offices to release the players. Some of the players only get to training at 5 and they are still tired from work. They train one hour and that's it.

Do you have any plans to go to the other districts and scout for talent?

Of course! That is part of my job. I want to go to the different districts and scout for those who have talent, but I am not sure when I will be able to do that.

What is your aim here? What do you hope to achieve in Brunei?

My target is for badminton in Brunei to progress. Looking at the Asean countries, we can see that their badminton is emerging. Countries like Thailand and Laos were nowhere in past years, now they have made their mark. But where is Brunei? The time has come for Brunei badminton to shine. If we don't work hard there is no hope.

Any idea when Brunei will make their mark in the regional scene?

My plan for Brunei is for the long-term, in the next three to five years. My contract is only for two years though so we will see if it is renewed or not. I want to bring Brunei to the level that Indonesia and Malaysia are at. My target is for the 2017 SEA Games, it's alright if we don't win gold - what I want to see is Brunei compete.

Do you have anything else to add?

I can only make an impact if I have the right conditions. Once again, I need time, support, tournaments for the players to compete in and sparring partners. I also hope you can mention a bit about my pay. I got more when I was in the Philippines and Mexico and this is something I have already talked to the relevant authorities about, but have yet to get a reply.

The Brunei Times

Monday 6 September 2010

Let's train 'em young

Monday, September 6, 2010


(Top) National badminton player Jasper Yu. (Above) Ak Abdul Halim Al-Hakim Pg Hj Ismail is another national player to have trained in Jakarta. Pictures: BT


One of Brunei's top badminton players believes the country should look into nurturing talent at a younger age.

Jasper Yu Woon Chai, 21, has been training at Tangkas Badminton Club in Jakarta with fellow national team player Ak Abdul Halim Al-Hakim Pg Hj Ismail, 18, for the past few months and the pair has been in for a real eye-opener at the Indonesian capital.

Players at Tangkas are divided into three age groups; 11-14 years old, 15-17 years old, and 17-and-above. Finding it hard to match their competitors at first, Yu felt it was because the Indonesians had taken up the sport at a younger age.

"They have been playing since they were six or seven and they have sacrificed their studies," said Yu in a recent interview with The Brunei Times.

"Put it this way; their future is badminton if they don't succeed they are goners.

"Should Brunei encourage such young players? Why not?

"But the resources and system need to be there. We need good coaches and a budget," stressed Yu, who has been playing badminton for the past 10 years and has been a member of the national team for five.

As a pair, Yu and Ak Abd Halim have reached the third round of the Yonex Brunei Open in January. Their Malaysia Games (Sukma) campaign in Melaka in June ended in the first round.

They won the doubles title during the Youth Sports Festival (PSR) last June and were champions of the same category during last year's Badminton Tournament in conjunction with His Majesty's 63rd birthday celebrations.

Yu helped Brunei to a bronze medal in the men's team event at last December's 3rd Borneo Games and also finished the PSR with gold in the men's singles and team event.

Perfecting their game at the Jakarta club which has produced Men's World No 3 Simon Santoso, mixed doubles' World No 3 Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir as well as Malaysia's mens doubles coach Rexy Mainaky, Yu and Ak Abd Halim are hoping to one day make a name for themselves in the international arena.

Fully sponsored by Athirah Badminton Club, one of the most successful clubs in the Sultanate, Ak Abdul Halim has been at Tangkas and off for eight months and Yu for three. They plan to return to Jakarta after Raya.

There is no denying that the coaching at Tangkas where the roughly 100 students are trained by two singles and one doubles coach also plays an important part in the young athletes' growth.

No surprise then that Yu should stress that the quality of coaches would be the key to ensure that Brunei can develop players at a younger age.

"I think Bruneian players are quite talented as well, but there is a lack of proper channelling," said Yu.

"I think proper guidance of talent (is needed).

"If the players have good guidance I think they can succeed," he added.

Though Brunei does not have a systematic approach to developing players at clubs and has been without a national coach since Wu Xue Kai left last December after 15 years at the helm, players can rely on assistant national coach Fadzli Hj Masri and Department of Youth and Sports badminton scheme trainer Wahab Moksin for guidance.

The Brunei Times

Sunday 5 September 2010

Smashing Brunei onto the world stage


MAKE no mistake about it, Brunei's hopes of enjoying any recognition in the international badminton arena lie squarely on the shoulders of two players who have been training in Indonesia for months.

Rarely does the Sultanate have budding local professionals who sacrifice so willingly for their sport, but Ak Abdul Halim Al-Hakim Pg Hj Ismail and Jasper Yu Woon Chai are perfect examples of such athletes.

Having decided that badminton is their calling, the two national players have been putting in eight-hour intensive training shifts at the Tangkas Badminton Club in Jakarta with the hopes of breaking into the world scene.

Fully sponsored by Athirah Badminton Club, one of the most successful clubs in the Sultanate, Ak Abdul Halim has been in the Indonesian capital on and off for eight months and Yu for three.

"We want to put Brunei on the badminton map ... We want to make Brunei proud," they told The Brunei Times on Wednesday.

"Our aim is to represent Brunei at the world stage and be the first professionals.

"We are the only two badminton players training abroad but the problem now is we need more exposure," said the pair.

Perfecting their skills at the club which produced Men's World No 3 Simon Santoso, mixed doubles' World No 3 Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir as well as Malaysia's mens doubles coach Rexy Mainaky, their training schedule at Tangkis means they are submersed into the world of badminton 24-7.

From 9am to 1pm they have court sessions where they work on skills and spar with other players. Weight training and drills for strokes, shuttle runs and footwork are also common, and during 5pm to 8pm they play more matches and 2v1 or 3v1 matchups.

"We only train half the day on Saturday. We are free on Sunday but we go to the club and practice anyway," they said.

Such dedication is not uncommon in Indonesia, where badminton is seen as a path to a bright future in a country which has produced more than its fair share of world-class players.

Some of Indonesia's best players like world and Olympic champions Hendrawan, Icuk Sugiarto, Joko Suprianto and Verawaty Fajrin have all trained at Tangkas, giving Ak Abdul Halim and Yu belief that they can follow in their footsteps.

They aren't the first Bruneians at the club though, with two-time national champion Zulkifli Mohd Salleh also honing his skills at Tangkas in the millenium era.

Training under two singles and one doubles coach, there are around 100 players divided into three age groups at Tangkas; 11-14 years old, 15-17 years old, and 17-and-above.

Ak Abdul Halim said that when he first got to Tangkas, last October, he found it hard to adjust to the speed and power of his competitors but perseverance and a lot of hard work have helped him pull through.

"I was losing to 16 to 17-year-old players by 15 points but I slowly got better and closed the gap," he said.

"I trained hard so I could balance myself out and after two months I could give them a fight. Now it is more balanced and I play with 18 to 19-year-olds," he added.

Ak Abdul Halim went on to say that he will give himself until 2013 to breakthrough while Yu is only going to focus on the sport until the end of the year, when he will then continue his studies at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

Staying together in Indonesia, they have been able to build on the ties they forged after playing on the same side of the court for years.

Ex-national coach Wu Xue Kai paired the two players for the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Friendship Games which Brunei hosted in December 2008, and they have been playing together ever since.

They reached the third round of the Yonex Brunei Open in January and also competed in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Melaka in June as well as the Borneo Games which Brunei hosted last December.

At Tangkas though, it's each man to himself and they don't train for doubles surprisingly.

"We've definitely tasted more success in doubles than in singles but at the moment we think we're still young and we should be out challenging in those categories," said Yu.

"We're not focusing solely on singles or doubles, we're dividing our attention evenly in both categories. We only train singles in Tangkas because we think that a good singles player can definitely play good doubles but a good doubles player is not necessarily a good singles player, mainly due to court coverage ability.

"Training singles enable us to have the ability to cover the full court easier, but of course, there are differences in terms of technique in singles and doubles. But we're fine with it (and) we understand each other very well on and off court, so we think we can overcome (not training for doubles)," added Yu, who admires Men's world No 1 Lee Chong Wei because of his footwork and style of play.

Is it a race between the two to see who can reach the international stage first?

"It's definitely competitive between us but we still maintain a close brotherhood," grinned Yu.

"I think he's very talented and by the time he's my age he'll be awesome! I think he is better than I was when I was his age," he added.

The bond between the two was obvious throughout the interview, and though they only had good things to say about each other, there was one question that had to be asked; who would come out on top if they faced each other?

"It would be 50/50," they agree. "I would win half and he would win half," said Yu, almost too diplomatically.

But training day and night does not make a champion, and the pair know that only by competing regularly can they make it to the big time.

Ak Abdul Halim has played in two events in Indonesia's Sirkuit Nasional (National Circuit) and the results have been encouraging.

He failed to progress past the first round (round of 64) of the singles competition in an event in Pekanbaru in April but advanced to the second round (round of 16) in the doubles category.

A month later in May he advanced past the first round of the singles competition in a tournament in Bandung.

"I can see the improvement," said Ak Abd Halim.

"I hope I can take part in more tournaments and elevate my standing as I progress. I reached the first round, then second, so now it has to be third," added Ak Abdul Halim, who is a fan of Men's World No 2 Lin Dan's power and speed.

Both Ak Abdul Halim and Yu competed at an International Challenge event in Surabaya in July but fell at the first hurdle of the three-star Badminton World Federation (BWF) competition.

Ak Abdul Halim lost to Indonesian Aldi Gilang in straight sets, though it was a close fight. Yu couldn't have asked for a worse draw if he tried, meeting Indonesian No 1 junior Riyanto Subagja in the first round where his campaign ended with a 21-14, 21-4 defeat.

One-star (Future Series), two-star (International Series) and three-star (International Challenge) events allow amateur players gain experience and world ranking points before going on to challenge the big guns in the four-star (Grand Prix), five-star (Grand Prix Gold) and six-star (Super Series) events.

The Future Series, International Series and International Challenge are less strict in terms of draws and qualification, and the duo said they can probably get into the reserve list of Grand Prix tournaments.

"Right now we do have ranking points," explained Yu, "but we don't know how much because we haven't been playing BWF circuits on a regular basis so BWF won't take note of that."

"Surabaya was only Ak Abdul Halim's first BWF tournament and only when we compete in world tours regularly will BWF take us seriously," he added.

The pair will be going back to Tangkas after Hari Raya and the focus will be firmly on securing better results in BWF tournaments.

"The aim? To continue to play as good as we can until we get noticed," agreed the winners of last June's Youth Sports Festival doubles title. "We are not just looking at being noticed by coaches but also by sponsors.

"I'm not sure if there are any scouts in badminton because I've never heard of it. You get recognised in badminton by doing well in tournaments and achieving good results. When you do well, people talk about you.

"We have to make a name for ourselves."

Saturday 4 September 2010

Watch Out! Next Tournament : PGGMB Open

Source thanks to Shaynia Pink:


The next tournament in Brunei will be the PGGMB Open.

The tournament will begin starting from 26th September on every Friday and Sunday.

Registration forms are available from PGGMB or Spotech. Closing date for register entry is on 18th September.

The draw of the tournament will be released on 20th September.

The category organised are as follows,

1. Beregu Lelaki Remaja 21 tahun kebawah.

2. Beregu Perempuan Remaja 21 tahun kebawah. (lahir thn 1989 keatas).

(Pemain Kebangsaan Brunei tidak dibenarkan menyertai.)


3. Beregu Lelaki Dewasa

4. beregu perempuan dewasa

5. Beregu Veteran Lelaki umur tidak kurang 55 thn

6. Beregu Veteran Perempuan umur tidak kurang 45 thn


Syarat penyertaan 3 hingga 6. Terbuka kepada smua guru-guru di:

Kementerian pendidikan, Kementrian Hal Ehwal Ugama, Institusi Pengajian Tinggi, Sekolah-Sekolah swasta (yangg berdaftar dengan Bahagian Pendidikan Swasta) sama ada yg masih berkhidmat, bertukar jawatan or bersara.

Friday 28 May 2010

Sukma team to be announced this week

Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Brunei Times

(Top) The Sultanate's top swimmer Amanda Liew Jia Xin in action. (Above Right) Jasper Yu Woon Chai is honing his skills in Indonesia. (Above Left) Brunei's most promising player Mohd Aiman Abdullah.


AFTER all the centralised training and preparations, on Friday, May 28, the athletes will finally know who have made the cut for Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) 13 in Melaka.

The Department of Youth and Sports (JBS) will finally reveal all the details which have piqued the nation's interests, before the athletes are scheduled to compete in the Games from June 10-19.

Will there be cuts made from the squad that on last count numbered 69? Are we still going to bank on the lucky 13 sports - athletics, aquatics, badminton, bowling, cycling, fencing, karate, petanque, sepak takraw, silat, squash, tennis and wushu - for medals?

Only the results from the athletes' final fitness test will tell and at this point, one could only speculate on who will make it.

Could the debut of lone petanque warrior, Abdul Wafi Awg Abd Hamid, be under jeopardy? The 22-year-old is on the verge of creating history as the first petanque player to represent the sultanate in Sukma.

Under the guidance of national coach, Somsak Juychunprasert, Abdul Wafi had already challenged for honours abroad five times.

His recent international exposure was in March, when he competed alongside teammates Mazlan Hj Yahya and Pg Hj Asmalina Pg Hj Jaya in the 2010 Pan Pacific Singapore Championship and placed third.

But this time, Abdul Wafi will have to go about it alone, gunning for the single and shooting events.

Another athlete going solo is Mohd Aiman Abdullah, the country's most promising junior tennis player. It will not be his first time at the Games, reaching the second round of the men's singles during the 2008 Sukma in Terengganu.

Last year he collected the silver in the men's open singles and bronze in the doubles during last May's Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia. He ended the year with a silver medal in the men's open singles during the 3rd Borneo Games which Brunei hosted last December.

Amanda Liew Jia Xin, the Sultanate's most prolific swimmer,will undoubtedly be picked for she was the only one to meet the benchmark set by JBS.

To be selected for the national team, all swimmers are required to better the "bronze" time of the previous edition of the Games. She will compete in the 50 metres breaststroke where her personal best is 36.06 seconds and 50m freestyle where her best time is 28.64s.

Liew will be joined by the duo of Mohd Naim Mohd Shafiee and Abd Afiq Hj Ali, who are set to compete in the 1m springboard event.

What about the young shuttlers who are currently sharpening up their skills in neighbouring Indonesia, Jasper Yu Woon Chai and Ak Halim Pg Ismail?

Last Monday Yu left for Jakarta, joining compatriot Ak Halim who had been there since December, for a training stint with the Tangkas Badminton Club. The club is well known for producing world and Olympic champions like Icuk Sugiarto, Hermawan Susanto, Joko Suprianto, Luis Ponggoh, Verawaty Fajrin, Rexy Mainaky and Lilyana Natsir.

Yu recently took part in the Yang Amat Mulia Pg Indera Mahkota Pg (Dr) Kamaluddin Al-Haj Badminton Championship Cup, which concluded on May 8.

The most promising national shuttler claimed a double in the tournament, smashing his way to both the Open Singles Under-23 and Men's Doubles A titles.

Yu and Ak Halim could be joined by Ihsan Zainuddin, Md Syahmil Fajrin Wahab and Md Sheril Shahizwan, who also competed in the tournament.

The trio are coached by JBS badminton coach, Wahab Moksin.

Jaspar's move to Jakarta a good idea: coach Wahab

Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Brunei Times

National shuttler Jasper Yu Woon Chai left Monday for Indonesia to train at the Tangkas Badminton Club.


BADMINTON coach of the Department of Youth and Sports (JBS), Wahab Moksin approves national shuttler Jasper Yu Woon Chai's decision to train in Jakarta.

But the coach is also wary that Yu's move to the Indonesian capital will have an effect on the team's preparation for Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) at Melaka in June.

"Since it's so close to Sukma, about three weeks, I doubt that it will help but nonetheless it is a good idea," said the coach.

Yu left for Jakarta on Monday for a training stint with the Tangkas Badminton Club, which produced world and Olympic champions like Icuk Sugiarto, Hermawan Susanto, Joko Suprianto, Luis Ponggoh, Verawaty Fajrin, Rexy Mainaky and Lilyana Natsir.

"Even I, as the coach, would encourage my charges to take the opportunity when presented but it's all about the timing and I would rather have them train together as a whole," said Wahab.

Aside from Jaspar, also carrying the flag for Brunei in the Sukma Games are Ak Halim Pg Ismail, Ihsan Zainuddin, Md Syahmil Fajrin Wahab and Md Sheril Shahizwan.

Ak Halim is also undergoing intentive trainingwith Tangkas since December last year according to Wahab.

"I'm just worried because they have a different training scheme. It might take time to get used to the new training schedule unlike here, which they are used to that's fixed and ready," said the coach.

If not for Sukma however, Yu has the coach's full support.

"It's good for him as even we (JBS) plan to send talented players for training abroad. Indonesia is a good place to train since it is one of the best countries for the sport, with better and more sparring partners.

"Rather then sending our players to countries like Europe or Japan, we could just opt for Indonesia since it is also closer," said Wahab.

The coach also shared the team's preparations for Sukma.

"So far it's been good since the team are right on track with the trainings such as speed, conditioning and agility. For now, we're more focused on match-game training though," he said.

"They're definitely ready psychologically. It won't be the first time they have fought players of calibre," replied Wahab, when asked whether the young shuttlers are mentally ready to represent Brunei at an international level.

Taking into consideration the team's training which has been going on December, the coach believes his charges can fight for a podium finish.

"I think that we can get the medal but it still depends on the situation. Unlike other sports such as atheletics, badminton is not a sport that can be measured. Anything on the court can determine whether it's a win or lose.

"Moreso Malaysia is also famous when it comes to badminton, on par with Indonesia. Yet we're not going to let it get to us, we'll try our hardest to be able to win a medal," said Wahab.

National shuttler 'moves' to Jakarta

Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The Brunei Times

National shuttler Jasper Yu Woon Chai will train with Indonesian club, the Tangkas Badminton Club, in Jakarta.



NATIONAL shuttler Jasper Yu Woon Chai wants to learn from the best in the business and yesterday left for Jakarta for a training stint.

Although Indonesia lost to China in the final of the Thomas Cup on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, the country's capital, Jakarta, is considered a nursery for budding badminton players.

The 21-year-old Bruneian will be training with the Tangkas Badminton Club, which is run by the Suhandinata family, namely Suharso Suhandinata.

Suharso played a key role in the unification of the then split International Badminton Federation and World Badminton Federation in the 1980s.

The unification was a significant step towards badminton's inclusion in the Olympic Games.

"Tangkas is one of the best badminton clubs. The club boasts of names like Rexy Mainaky and Lilyana Natsir," said Yu.

Rexy is a former men's doubles world champion from Indonesia. He won the men's doubles Olympic gold medal in 1996 with partner Ricky Subagja.

Currently Rexy is the men's doubles coach of Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Lilyana has represented the Indonesian women's team and specialises in doubles.

Accolades she has won include mixed doubles at the Asian Championships and four World Grand Prix titles in 2006.

Other figures that the club has produced include world and Olympic champions like Icuk Sugiarto, Hermawan Susanto, Joko Suprianto, Luis Ponggoh and Verawaty Fajrin.

"I'm going to train with the club for three months. I'm aiming to improve my technique and physical fitness," said the national player before departing at the Brunei International Airport in Berakas yesterday.

"Badminton has always been my passion and because of the strong support from my family and club I am always aiming to do better. I also want to help raise the standard of the sport in Brunei," Yu added.

He is accompanied by compatriot Ak Halim Pg Ismail, who has already been there for at least 10 months.

"Most probably we will go straight from Jakarta to Melaka for the Sukma (Malaysia) Games in June," Yu added.

Yet to be confirmed, Yu mentioned that most probably he would be competing in both the singles and doubles events.

He recently took part in the Yang Amat Mulia Pg Indera Mahkota Pg (Dr) Kamaluddin Al-Haj Badminton Championship Cup, which concluded on May 8.

The most promising national shuttler claimed a double in the tournament, smashing his way to both the Open Singles Under-23 and Men's Doubles A titles.