Candra named IBF Player of the Year<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Just one day after his wedding day, Indonesia's
\nCandra Wijaya was granted another big surprise when the
\nInternational Badminton Federation (IBF) announced on Sunday that
\nhe had been honored with the \"Eddy Choong Player of the Year\"
\naward for 2000.<\/p>\n
Men's doubles specialist Candra, who had just got married to
\nlong-time girlfriend Caroline Indriani on Saturday, defeated the
\nother nominees; England's Olympic bronze medalist Joanne Goode
\nand India's rising star Pulella Gopichand. In an unofficial poll
\non the IBF's World Badminton website, Gopichand was voted the
\ninternet fans' men's singles Player of the Year.<\/p>\n
Candra, who was born on Sept. 16, 1975, has collected numerous
\ntitles during the year 2000 including the Grand Prix Series
\ncircuits in Taiwan, Japan and the Indonesia Open tournaments.<\/p>\n
He also joined Indonesia's Thomas Cup winning team in Kuala
\nLumpur in May. Indonesia managed to retain the Cup for the 12th
\ntime as well as it being only the second time it has been won for
\nthe fourth-consecutive-time.<\/p>\n
But his peak performance was when he and partner Tony Gunawan
\nmanaged to win Indonesia's sole Olympics gold medal in Sydney in
\nSeptember by defeating South Koreans Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-
\nsung.<\/p>\n
\"I'm really surprised to know that the IBF has picked me as
\nthe recipient. It's a great wedding gift. My wife and my family
\nare really proud... It's a great gift from God and I'm really
\nvery thankful to everybody who has helped me,\" Candra told The
\nJakarta Post in a telephone interview.<\/p>\n
\"I share this honor with my partner Tony and also my coach
\nHerry Imam Pierngadi and also my friends from the men's doubles
\nand other teammates at the Indonesia Badminton Center.\"<\/p>\n
IBF President Lu Shengrong sent her personal congratulations,
\nand those of the IBF Council to Candra, saying: \"Badminton could
\nnot wish for a better ambassador for our sport.\"<\/p>\n
Candra is just the third recipient -- after Peter Gade
\nChristensen of Denmark in 1998 and Camilla Martin of Denmark in
\n1999 -- of this prestigious award, named after the Malaysian
\nlegend Eddy Choong who placed Malaysian badminton into the
\nEuropean limelight. Choong dominated the European circuit in the
\nearly 1950's and was part of Malaysia's 1955 Thomas Cup winning
\nsquad. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/candra-named-ibf-player-of-the-year-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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