Ellen still unsure of future after victory<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sometimes the absence of heavy pressure and
\ndemanding responsibilities can boost someone's performance to a
\nhigher level, just as it has for former top women's singles
\nshuttler Ellen Angelina who snatched the women's singles title on
\nSunday at the US$170,000 Sanyo Indonesian Open.<\/p>\n
Ellen, who quit the Indonesian Badminton Center earlier this
\nyear after her poor performance in the All England, said she did
\nnot expect to perform so well after defeating top seed Wang Chen
\nof Hong Kong 7-5, 7-3, 5-7, 7-4.<\/p>\n
\"This is my first Grand Prix series title and I didn't expect
\nit at all. I just played lightly without any pressure to win the
\nmatch,\" she told a post-match conference.<\/p>\n
\"Perhaps the fact that I am no longer in the center boosted my
\nperformance. Besides, Wang did not play well.\"<\/p>\n
Born on June 30, 1976, in the Central Java town of Salatiga,
\nthe oldest daughter of Suprapto Sandianto and Koh Swie Leng's
\nthree children started to play badminton when she was 10 years
\nold.<\/p>\n
\"My father introduced me to the sport. All of my family
\nmembers also play badminton. Later, I joined Djarum team.<\/p>\n
\"I was recruited to the center in 1995 but I have never really
\nmade it to the top by grabbing titles. The best performances were
\nentering the finals.<\/p>\n
\"But, lately I felt that I hadn't made any progress. I then
\ndecided to quit the center because I always lost in the earlier
\nrounds. It was so exhausting,\" Ellen said.<\/p>\n
Ellen's best achievement in 2000 was entering the final of the
\nAsian Badminton Championships here last November, where she lost
\nto Chinese rookie Xie Xinfang.<\/p>\n
In the 1999 Indonesian Open in Bali, Ellen was defeated by
\nLidya Djaelawidjaya in the final.<\/p>\n
\"That's why I submitted a resignation letter on March 9. I
\nwanted to concentrate on my study. Now I take a private Mandarin
\ncourse besides badminton training,\" Ellen said.<\/p>\n
\"Coach Liang Chiu Sia trains me privately. I have more time to
\ndo other activities as my schedule is lighter than when I was
\nstill at the center.<\/p>\n
\"But not being in the training program has its own problems.
\nFor example, I have to find my own sponsors and arrange my own
\nschedule.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia's national shuttlers currently have a collective
\ncontract with Japanese sports goods manufacturer Yonex, while
\nEllen has just signed a one-year contract with Yonex's Japan-
\nbased competitor Gosen.<\/p>\n
Ellen is still unsure about her future career after leaving
\nthe center, saying she will just live life day by day.<\/p>\n
\"I will still play in the World Grand Prix Finals in Brunei
\nDarussalam and the JVC Asian Badminton Championships in the
\nPhilippines,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"But I don't know what's next yet. Maybe I will still play
\nuntil 2002. After that, who knows?\" (nvn)<\/p>",
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