Indonesian shuttlers trained in endurance for Olympics

JAKARTA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian shuttlers are set to take up an intensified training regime focusing on endurance to enhance their chances of winning at the Olympics, according to trainer.

"I can make them faster, stronger, less (prone to) injury and powerful ... to have a better performance later in the Olympics," Jason Kurfurst was quoted as saying in Friday's The Jakarta Post newspaper.

Kurfurst was hired as a consultant trainer to help the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) prepare the athletes.

His arrival was facilitated by the National Sports Council (KONI), who is concerned about Indonesia's badminton medal prospects after the players performed poorly in recent tournaments.

National coach Lius Pongoh said the players had been undergoing tests to determine their weaknesses. The tests have been scheduled to run from Tuesday to Friday.

"The tests are necessary in providing the trainer with a physical record of each player," Lius said.

Kurfurst, who is also supervising tennis players, said the shuttlers were currently at a low level of performance.

"The tests are taken to know their strength in cardio, lower and upper body, stomach, back and also the flexibility in the legs and arms, and the strength in each leg," he said.

Some male players, for example Taufik Hidayat, have back injuries, while some female players already have knee injuries, according to Kurfurst.

"Maybe, this could be from over-training or something that they have not worked out," he said.