Alan Budikusuma and Susi Susanti, 'Amigos Para Siempre'<\/p>\n
By Deborah P. Hutauruk and Primastuti Handayani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): "First love never dies" may sound like a cliche,
\nbut for Indonesia's badminton queen Lucia Francisca Susi Susanti,
\nthe phrase has rung true for more than 10 years.<\/p>\n
It was her first love, Alexander Alan Budikusuma, who brought
\nher to the altar of St. Jacobus church here on Feb. 9 for what
\nhas been dubbed the "Wedding of the Year" by many members of the
\npress.<\/p>\n
The Grand Athena Wedding reception held on Feb. 23 by
\nIndonesia's badminton king and queen and 1992 Barcelona Olympic
\ngold medalists drew more than 2,000 guests.<\/p>\n
Held at the Gran Melia Hotel's Mataram ballroom in South
\nJakarta, security was tight and guests had to pass through
\nsecurity checks.<\/p>\n
Vice President Try Sutrisno, State Minister of Environment
\nSarwono Kusumaatmadja, National Sports Council Chairman Wismoyo
\nArismunandar and Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tandjung
\nattended the event, as did real estate developers Ciputra and
\nJames T. Riady.<\/p>\n
When the Barcelona Olympics theme song Amigos Para Siempre
\n(Friends Forever) came on, dancers dressed in cream colored togas
\nentered the room, followed by dancers carrying rings in five
\ncolors representing five continents in the Olympics -- Asia
\n(yellow), the Americas (red), Africa (black), Australia (green)
\nand Europe (blue). In the middle, dressed in red and white,
\ndanced Indonesian gymnast Zainal Abidin.<\/p>\n
When the wedding march sounded, the smiling couple appeared to
\na barrage of photographers and flashing cameras.<\/p>\n
Female guests commented on Susi's beautiful gown as local and
\nforeign TV camera crews, including CNN, Malaysia's TV3 and StarTV
\nHong Kong, documented the gala event.<\/p>\n
Arriving on the palace-like stage adorned with flowers, the
\nbride and groom kissed the Indonesian flag.<\/p>\n
"Kissing the flag symbolizes our love and respect for the
\ncountry. We just want to express our love for Indonesia," Susi
\nsaid after the wedding. "We want to show that we love the country
\nnot only on the court but also off."<\/p>\n
Susi is the only daughter of Risad Haditono and Purwa
\nBenowati. She was born in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Feb. 11, 1971,
\nwith the name Ong Lien Hiang, which means the fragrance forest
\nking. On that special night she wore a cream silk gown with a
\ntail measuring 6.8 meters long.<\/p>\n
Alan, born in Surabaya on March 29, 1968, was handsome in his
\nblack suit.<\/p>\n
Ciputra, owner of the Jaya Raya badminton club where Alan and
\nSusi have been members for years, read a passage from Lebanese
\npoet Khalil Gibran's The Prophet.<\/p>\n
The party heated up when singer Sandro Tobing sang Alusi Au
\n(Answer Me), a traditional song from North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Among the guests were top shuttlers like Mia Audina, Ricky
\nSubagja, Joko Supriyanto and Ardy B. Wiranata, coaches Indra
\nGunawan, Christian Hadinata and former world champion Rudy
\nHartono. They came to the stage and posed with the couple for a
\nphoto session.<\/p>\n
Later in the evening, guests queued to congratulate the couple
\nafter they had cut their 2.5-meter high cake resembling the
\nColiseum.<\/p>\n
Kim Thong, the party's organizer and Susi's wedding gown
\ndesigner, said the wedding plans had been made two years ago.<\/p>\n
Kim Thong and Ciputra, who were among the wedding party's
\nsponsors, said the event was one of the most important weddings
\nof the year because the couple was a national asset. How much was
\nspent is not known, though Ciputra said they tried to keep the
\ncosts down.<\/p>\n
Exhausting<\/p>\n
"Oh.. I'm so exhausted. I never thought that hosting a wedding
\nparty would be this tiring. I would prefer to play five sets to
\nthis. It's like playing 10 sets," said Susi Susanti during a 10-
\nminute press conference after the reception.<\/p>\n
Susi and Alan, who plan to have three children, said they were
\nvery surprised with the number of guests packed into the room.<\/p>\n
"We never thought so many people would come to give their
\nblessings. We're really thankful to our guests who took the time
\nto come here," said Alan.<\/p>\n
The couple only had two days vacation after the wedding as
\nthey had to prepare for the All England championships in
\nBirmingham from March 11 to March 15.<\/p>\n
They plan to retire from competition within one or two years.<\/p>\n
"I have told Mia to replace me in the near future. I believe
\nshe's ready for the task," said Susi.<\/p>\n
Susi, who is aiming for the 1998 Asian Games gold medal, won
\nIndonesia's first Olympic gold in Barcelona in 1992. She won the
\nAll England badminton championships in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994
\nand won the World Grand Prix Finals six times. She also supported
\nthe Indonesian women's team five times at the Uber Cup badminton
\nchampionships.<\/p>\n
Alan gave Indonesia its second gold at the same Olympics. He
\nwon several Grand Prix Series, the 1993 world championships and
\nhas been on the Indonesian men's team several times at the Thomas
\nCup.<\/p>\n
Love story<\/p>\n
Born as Goei Ren Fang, Alan met Susi for the first time in
\n1986 at her dormitory on Jl. Manila, South Jakarta, when they
\nboth joined the national training program.<\/p>\n
"He often borrowed my books. I wondered why he always borrowed
\nfrom me. He also loved to accompany me when I ate in the canteen.
\nAt first, I thought he liked my friend," Susi said, as quoted by
\nKompas.<\/p>\n
"I had thought about matching him with Mei Mei (Minarti Timur,
\nthe mixed doubles shuttler). In fact I had a crush on one of his
\nfriends," she added.<\/p>\n
Staying in a dormitory was hard for Susi, who is very close to
\nher father and had never lived away from home. But she lost her
\nhomesickness when she met Alan, the eldest son of Aria Wiranata
\nand Veronica.<\/p>\n
Susi and Alan declared their love for each other on May 1,
\n1987. The love story continued after Susi left the dormitory on
\nJl. Manila and moved to another one in Cipayung, East Jakarta,
\nwhere the new training center for the Badminton Association of
\nIndonesia is located.<\/p>\n
"Alan has so much in common with papi (dad)," said Susi.
\n"That's why I picked him as my spouse."<\/p>\n
Alan said that he likes Susi because of her personality.<\/p>\n
"She's always frank and fair. We can solve any problem clear
\nand fast," Alan said. "But she's emotional."<\/p>\n
They used to spend Saturday nights chatting or watching movies
\nin the dormitory. They sometimes went out for dinner at warteg
\n(inexpensive restaurants) or fancy restaurants.<\/p>\n
"I love Thai food and chicken noodles," Susi said.<\/p>\n
Their love story, however, was not always smooth. In the first
\nyears, their parents disagreed about the relationship, which they
\nfelt would affect their careers.<\/p>\n
"That's why we had a 'back street' relationship," Susi said.
\n"We understood that they wanted the best for us but we wanted to
\nprove that we could share our careers and privacy."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alan-budikusuma-and-susi-susanti-amigos-para-siempre-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}