Dutch shuttler Mia hopes to shine in Olympics<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former Indonesian Uber Cup team starlet Mia
\nAudina has matured, both in technical skills and attitude.<\/p>\n
Badminton fans remember the then 14-year-old Mia becoming the
\ncountry's heroine after defeating Zhang Ning of China to help
\nIndonesia win its first Cup title in 19 years at the Senayan
\nIndoor Stadium in 1994.<\/p>\n
Now, Mia is back in town hoping to recapture her past glory
\nand hopefully move closer to her ultimate goal of winning gold at
\nthe Olympic Games in Sydney in September -- as a Dutch player.<\/p>\n
At the 1996 Olympics, Mia, then representing Indonesia,
\nreached the final only to lose to Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea.
\n"I don't want to repeat that mistake. I don't want to win another
\nsilver. I want the gold."<\/p>\n
Early this year, Mia beat world number one Camilla Martin of
\nDenmark in the Taiwan Open.<\/p>\n
In the Sanyo Indonesia Open this year, Mia aims to repeat her
\n1998 performance and win the title. "I have very tough rivals
\nhere, including Camilla, Kanako Yonekura of Japan and Zeng
\nYaqiong of China," she said during a media conference after
\nmaking quick work of Indonesia's Budiani in the first round of
\nthe tournament. She will next face Zeng.<\/p>\n
Last year, Mia sparked controversy when she decided to move to
\nthe Netherlands following her marriage to Surinamese Tylio
\nLobman, a gospel singer.<\/p>\n
For Mia, the move turned out to be a valuable lesson. She is
\nvery independent in Rotterdam, where she lives in an apartment
\nwith Lobman and drives her own car to the stadium for practice.
\nThe situation is quite different from Indonesia, where she spent
\nher days at the Indonesian Badminton Center dormitory in
\nCipayung, East Jakarta. Her air-conditioned room there was just
\nsteps away from the training hall.<\/p>\n
"I have to struggle to do well in the Netherlands. No one
\nforces me to train, but it comes from inside because I want to go
\nfarther," she said.<\/p>\n
Mia explained she had a difficult time after Susi Susanti
\nretired last year due to her pregnancy and Liang Chiusia took
\nover the coaching duties from Retno Kustiyah.<\/p>\n
"It's very hard to adapt to a new coach because she was
\ntechnically different from Retno. Retno is more offensive while
\nChiusia is more defensive. I was unable to balance both skills.
\nTo make things worse, all the burdens were laid on my shoulders
\nafter Susi's retirement.<\/p>\n
"I was still very young and confused at the time and nobody
\ncould understand my situation. I told them that I needed time to
\ncope with everything. Apparently when the time came, I was
\nalready in the Netherlands."<\/p>\n
Mia, who was born in Jakarta in 1979, said she misses
\nIndonesian food, especially pempek Palembang.<\/p>\n
"Food in Indonesian restaurants in the Netherlands tastes
\ndifferent from the food here. I think I cook better myself," she
\nsaid with a laugh. (yan)<\/p>",
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