RI defector Audina hoping to sparkle in Sydney<\/p>\n
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP): At just 20 years of age,
\nHolland's Indonesian-born badminton star Mia Audina has crammed
\nso much into a turbulent career she ought to have one of the
\nwisest heads on Olympic shoulders.<\/p>\n
Six years ago, the sublimely gifted badminton player was the
\ntoast of the nation after holding her nerve amazingly to help
\nIndonesia's women lift the Uber Cup in Jakarta in a tense final
\nrubber.<\/p>\n
At 14 she appeared to have the world at her feet. Two years
\nlater her quality was borne out once again when as a 16-year-old
\nshe reached the women's singles final at the Atlanta Olympics.<\/p>\n
Facing South Korea's Bang Soo-hyun, she led 6-5 in the first
\ngame and 7-5 in the second, but Bang's extra experience told and
\nthe Korean took gold winning 11-6, 11-7.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless Audina's silver-medal performance confirmed what
\nthe badminton world already knew. Here was a world number one in
\nwaiting.<\/p>\n
But the years between Atlanta and Sydney have been difficult
\nfor Audina, to say the least.<\/p>\n
In April last year her mother died. Prior to that she had
\nalready fallen out spectacularly with Indonesia's badminton
\nofficialdom.<\/p>\n
Audina, engaged to a Dutch gospel singer and settled happily
\nin the Netherlands, wanted to shuttle back and forth to Indonesia
\nfor international training.<\/p>\n
The badminton authorities demanded she live in Indonesia
\nhowever, and when she refused she was unceremoniously dumped from
\nthe international set-up. Talk of her retirement was rampant.<\/p>\n
But refreshed from a break, which had seen her become a
\nnaturalized Dutch citizen, she announced her desire to represent
\nthe Netherlands in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Initially the Indonesian Badminton Association had been
\nexpected to block the request, but when they agreed the way was
\nclear for Audina to start her Olympic preparations in earnest.<\/p>\n
The break from the game has left her yet to rediscover her
\nbest form, and she had a torrid time in the Indonesian Open in
\nJuly.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta crowd booed her mercilessly during a quarterfinals
\ndefeat to Indonesia's Lidya Djaelawidjaja. Typically, Audina
\nremained unfazed.<\/p>\n
\"I know how I can play, and that's all that matters. I'm not
\nworried by any of my results this year... all that matters are
\nthe results in Sydney,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-defector-audina-hoping-to-sparkle-in-sydney-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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