Solutions Urgent for Strained Kevin-Herry Relationship

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Indonesian badminton men's doubles coach, Herry Iman Pierngadi (center) gives instructions to the pair Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Gideon during the semi-final break for the 2018 Asian Games individual category at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (27/8/2018).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The fractured relationship between men's doubles badminton star Kevin Sanjaya and coach Herry Iman Pierngadi must be repaired soon to avoid distractions at the badminton national training center. Friction in the relationship between athletes and their coach is common in the sports world, and the Kevin-Herry case must be handled proportionally to for immediate resolution, especially since the disharmony has become public.

“When it is known among the public, the problem can spread to [involve] those who don't like Herry or Kevin. If the problem is allowed to drag on, it could have a negative impact on the performances of both Herry and Kevin," sports observer Fritz E. Simandjuntak said on Tuesday (27/9/2022), when contacted from Jakarta.

Fritz expressed his hope that the Indonesian Badminton Association Central Board (PP PBSI) would intervene immediately by inviting the two to sit together, reminding them about the positive contributions they had made regardless of the current division in their relationship.

Herry had contributed greatly by lifting Kevin and his doubles partner Marcus Gideon to become world achievers. On the other hand, Kevin and Marcus had made many incredible achievements for “Merah Putih” (Indonesia) through their hard work.

"Hopefully, the problem will be resolved soon, so it does not backfire on the two parties, in particular on the team [at training center] as a whole," Fritz said.

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News about the rift between Kevin and Herry had surfaced on social media over the last two days, while a national publication quoted Kevin as saying that he could no longer work with Herry.

Kevin said Herry had criticized him and Marcus too much on their failure at the East Ventures Indonesia Open 2022 in June, when the star doubles pair lost to unseeded doubles pair Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae of South Korea in the second round and crashed out of the tournament.

Netizens’ comments took a stab at Kevin, accusing him of recklessness, simple errors and mistimed shots.

Asked to respond to the outcry on social media, Herry said that a top badminton player should not have played like Kevin. Apart from the fact that Marcus was still recovering from an injury, he said, Kevin should have persisted in the game by covering for his partner's weakness.

[We] last communicated at the Indonesia Open. I was told by [assistant coach] Aryono [Miranat] that Kevin did not want to practice [with me] anymore.

Kevin appears to have found his coach’s criticism too much to cope with. Their relationship has since begun to unravel, with Kevin deciding to stop training with Herry. A few weeks after the Indonesia Open, he expressed his disinclination to be coached by Herry.

He also alluded to Herry's “unfair” approach to coaching him and Marcus several years ago. Herry's criticism over his performance at the 2022 Indonesia Open seemed to be the final straw, cementing Kevin's disappointment.

“[We] last communicated at the Indonesia Open. I was told by [assistant coach] Aryono [Miranat] that Kevin did not want to practice [with me] anymore," said Herry.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Indonesian men's doubles pair Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (right) and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon against French men's doubles Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov in the preliminary round of the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2022 at Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Tuesday (7/6/2022). Kevin/Marcus won this match 21-16, 21-19.

Herry added that he had no ill feeling towards Kevin. "It does not matter if Kevin doesn't want to train with me. If [he] doesn't feel right, then [he] doesn't have to train with me,” he said, referring to Kevin’s response to their strained relationship.

While opting out of the main squad under Herry, Kevin is still training at the National Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

“His is still with the training program at the National Training Center, but he is not with the men's doubles [squad]. He is practicing now with fellow trainees in the pratama [second squad] and those in the [mixed doubles squad]," Herry said.

‘Find a solution’

PBSI executive chairman Alex Tirta said a fractured relationship was part of the normal dynamics at the National Training Center. "The situation is common and will be resolved professionally soon," he said.

PBSI secretary-general Mohammad Fadil Imran said he had met Kevin and Herry to attempt mediation, and would follow up with another meeting in the hope that all would end well.

"Hopefully, we can find a solution for them," he said.

Regardless of the strained relationship between Kevin and Herry, said Fadil, Kevin and his doubles partner Marcus could still train under Aryono.

Hopefully, we can find a solution for them.

Alex Tirta said Herry was still the training center’s head coach for the men's doubles main squad, of which Kevin was still a member.

“As of today, Herry IP is still the head coach of the men's doubles main squad. He remains responsible and has full authority of the men's doubles section at the Cipayung National Training Center," he said.

Relationship dynamics

Disharmony between an athlete and their coach is not new for the PBSI. Former world men's singles star Taufik Hidayat once refused to engage with his newly appointed coach, Joko Suprianto, saying that he “clicked more” with former coach Mulyo Handoyo, whose contract with the PBSI had expired in 2001.

Taufik played in tournaments without a permanent coach in the next few years until 2004, when PBSI re-signed Mulyo.

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Regarding Herry’s treatment of his players, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto said they had endured sharp criticism from the coach for their inconsistent performance early this year.

However, they said they had taken the positive aspects from his criticism as motivation to ignite their fighting spirit. After failing at the All England, Fajar-Rian reached the finals in the next seven tournaments, winning the Swiss Open, Malaysia Masters and Indonesia Masters.

This article was translated by Musthofid.