JawaPos.com-PP PBSI took a very strategic step to improve the quality of the mixed doubles sector at Pelatnas Cipayung.
Today (28/3), PP PBSI officially recalled former national player and former head coach of India and Malaysia men’s doubles, Flandy Limpele.
However, in national training, the bronze winner of the men’s doubles at the 2004 Athens Olympics (together with Eng Hian), will play a different role. Flandy will train the national junior mixed doubles. The senior sector head coach is still held by Nova Widianto.
“It doesn’t matter (training juniors),” Flandy told JawaPos.com. “I’m even more happy because I will train young national players from the bottom. So I know more about the character of the player,” added the 48-year-old coach.
Flandy has track record who is good at being a men’s doubles coach of another country. He was able to orbit India’s Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy doubles to become more established in the world’s top 10 rankings. In addition, during the Flandy era, Shetty/Rankireddy won the 2019 Thailand Open.
Moving to Malaysia, Flandy helped men’s doubles Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik become a formidable pair. The climax was when Aaron/Soh won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Aaron/Soh are the only Malaysian badminton players to win medals at Tokyo 2020. Malaysia won two medals in multievent the biggest sport in the world. Apart from Aaron/Soh, Malaysia won one silver via Keirin number cyclist, Azizulhasni Awang.
Quoted from ESPN, Chirag calls Flandy’s training very, very hard. Chirag said, Flandy increased the intensity of the Indian men’s doubles physical exercise very drastically. “At a level we have never experienced before,” said Chirag.
In the first month of Flandy’s entry, Chirag/Satwiksairaj was immediately shocked. Because, Flandy provides a running training program for two or three times a week.
The program contains running sprint 400 meters for 45 minutes. This makes Chirag/Satwiksairaj’s body “crush.” Because the previous coaches only provided a running menu on the badminton court, not on the track.
Body aches, cramps, and vomiting eventually become daily food.
According to Chirag, Flandy can be compared to a teacher who is very hated by teenage students. Because Flandy always makes his children work very, very hard.
Chirag added that the previous coach might be a little tolerant of Satwiksairaj. Because, he is a good player in the Indian national team. But Flandy didn’t care. If the spirit of the players begins to slacken, Flandy even runs with Chirag/Satwiksairaj on the track. “And we will all cramp together,” Chirag said and laughed.
That very strenuous exercise did not betray the results. All the sacrifices and pain finally paid off in the match.
Chirag/Satwiksairaj managed to become the 2019 Thailand Open champions, the highest title they had ever won until that year. In addition, Chirag/Satwiksairaj also experienced a significant increase in physical strength.
Chirag admits that he is more resilient if he has to play for a long time. Because he is so physically fit, his focus is very awake. Meanwhile, Satwiksairaj is able to play in two numbers at once, men’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Flandy confirmed Chirag’s story. He said that the program will adapt to the conditions of the players. If the player is physically weak, then he will focus on galvanizing physically. If the technique is weak, then he focuses on improving the technique.
So, the approach to each player is different. Because their strengths and weaknesses are different.
“If all goes well, the next task is to help players become excellent and finally the champion,” said Flandy. “About what players A and B have lacking, that’s my secret,” added Flandy and then laughed.
Being a mixed doubles coach, added Flandy, is clearly different from being a men’s doubles coach. Especially in terms of how to play, rotation, physical strength, and how the game tactics are carried out.
However, Flandy admitted he had no problem with it all. Because, apart from playing in the men’s doubles, Flandy is a very good mixed doubles player.
His greatest achievement was winning bronze at the 2007 World Championship. At that time, he was partnering with Vita Marissa. Together with Vita, Flandy was able to penetrate the semifinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In 1996, Flandy, who was paired with Rosalina Riseu, won silver at the World Cup. “There is a difference in the men’s doubles and mixed double. But the difference is slight. For the context of men’s doubles and mixed double, I can do both. Because I’ve played in those two numbers,” said Flandy.
Flandy said that he actually had an agreement with PP PBSI last January. Two people who asked him to go home were Deputy General Chairperson/Daily Chair of PP PBSI Alex Tirta and Secretary General of PP PBSI Muhammad Fadil Imran.
Then why did he want to accept PP PBSI’s offer? “We, as Indonesians, should be devoted to the Indonesian people. If asked to go home, I will certainly be happy to go home, “said Flandy.
Meanwhile, PP PBSI’s Head of Development and Achievement, Rionny Mainaky, said that Flandy was chosen because he was very experienced. He also has track record-nya good.
“Flandy is very disciplined and committed. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he managed to bring the Malaysian men’s doubles (Aaron Chia / Soh Wooi Yik) to a bronze medal,” said Rionny in a PP PBSI press release.
“As a player, he is also very accomplished in two numbers. Men’s doubles and mixed doubles. We hope that these lessons and experiences can be shared with our athletes,” said Rionny again.
Rionny hopes that Flandy can also help Nova Widianto to qualify two mixed doubles representatives for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Flandy himself is currently still in Malaysia. He will start coaching the Indonesian team as of April 1, 2022. Flandy has not participated in accompanying the Malaysian men’s doubles at the Swiss Open 2022 which ended yesterday (27/3).
“If I join, maybe the final result will be different, Mas,” said Flandy and then laughed out loud. “No, no, I’m joking,” added Flandy. His laughter came back.
In the Swiss Open 2022 men’s doubles final, Indonesian doubles Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto defeated the Malaysian pair, former Flanders, Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin. Previously, on March 13, Flandy led Goh/Nur to win the German Open 2022.
Besides Flandy, PBSI also tied up former Indian coach Namrih Suroto. Namrih is positioned as assistant coach of the women’s doubles pratama.
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