Andre wants a fair shot at stardom<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Andre
\nKurniawan presents a heartfelt homage to Olympic badminton men's
\nsingles champion Taufik Hidayat every time he takes the court.<\/p>\n
Andre's lethal jump smashes, cutting drives, cunning flicks
\nover the net, superb reflexes and resilient defense are
\nreminiscent of his sporting idol.<\/p>\n
He also dreams big of matching Taufik's success.<\/p>\n
\"I want to go international. Winning the Olympics is every
\nshuttler's dream, and mine too,\" Andre told The Jakarta Post
\nbefore a straightforward win over Sakti Kusuma in the semifinals
\nof the National Junior Championships here.<\/p>\n
But Andre, who turned 18 in December, has already encountered
\na detour in his plans.<\/p>\n
After winning the national junior title in Denpasar in 2003,
\nAndre was called up to the National Training Center in Cipayung,
\nEast Jakarta. His wins in the Jakarta Open and Taiwan Open junior
\nchampionships in 2004 seemed to confirm his promise.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, they failed to impress Cipayung's
\nadministrators, now under director Icuk Sugiarto following the
\nchange in the chairmanship of the Badminton Association of
\nIndonesia (PBSI) from Chairul Tanjung to Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
First, Andre was excluded from a junior team for the World
\nJunior Championship in Canada in October. Then he was informed
\nthat he was being let go from the center.<\/p>\n
\"I don't understand the reason behind my relegation from
\nCipayung. They said I had performed poorly at the National
\nGames,\" Andre, a member of Djarum Kudus badminton club of Central
\nJava, said.<\/p>\n
At the Games in September in Palembang, South Sumatra, Andre
\nwas stopped in the last 16 by Simon Santoso. However, fellow
\nCipayung member Markus Wijanu, who lost in the last 32, was sent
\nto Canada.<\/p>\n
In another decision that drew protests from the Central Java
\nchapter, Icuk's son Tommy also was selected for the team.<\/p>\n
\"Of course I was disappointed. But I will not let my
\ndisappointment overwhelm me. I'd better let it go.\"<\/p>\n
Andre was born into a family that loves badminton, although
\nhis parents considered it more of a hobby than a sport to be
\ntaken seriously. His two younger brothers do not seem to be
\ninterested in playing competitively.<\/p>\n
He first considered badminton as a future career when he was
\nin fourth grade in his hometown of Kudus, and decided to make a
\ncommitment to the sport.<\/p>\n
Since completing high school last year, Andre has devoted all
\nhis energy to becoming a better player.<\/p>\n
\"It would be hard to share my time between school and
\ntraining. I want to be totally focused on playing badminton. I
\nbelieve badminton can be a financial mainstay providing that I
\ngive my best in every tournament.\"<\/p>\n
The success of Taufik, long considered the talented but
\ntemperamental bad boy of the sport, in Athens -- as well as his
\nhuge financial windfall -- motivates him.<\/p>\n
\"I'm impressed by his mental grit.\"<\/p>\n
PBSI is using the junior tournament here to scout for
\ntalented players to be groomed for stardom. If Andre succeeds in
\ntaking the title on Saturday over East Java's Fauzi Adnan, then
\nthe door to Cipayung should open once again.<\/p>\n
Andre, forced to prove himself a second time, simply wants a
\nfair shot at stardom.<\/p>\n
\"If I can win this tournament, then nobody should ignore me. I
\ndeserve my place.\"<\/p>\n
_<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/andre-wants-a-fair-shot-at-stardom-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }