Women's shuttlers must work harder: Rudy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former champion Rudy Hartono called on the
\nnation's female badminton players to work harder if they want to
\ntake over the mantle of Susi Susanti, who plans to retire after
\nthe 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December.<\/p>\n
\"Our female players must work harder to achieve better results
\nin international tournaments. They must not be easily satisfied
\nwith their results. The sport isn't only based on skill. It also
\ntakes a lot of hard work,\" he said during a coaching clinic for
\nstreet children sponsored by the United Nations Development
\nProgram (UNDP).<\/p>\n
Susi, 27, the 1992 Olympic champion and 1996 Olympic bronze
\nmedalist, plans to retire and have children. She is married to
\nthe 1992 Olympic gold medalist Alan Budikusuma.<\/p>\n
Badminton players should not only consider their prize money
\nand sponsorship contracts. They must put their international
\nachievements first, said Rudy, who won eight All England titles.<\/p>\n
\"If they win lots of international tournaments then they will
\nget many contracts from sponsors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Susi was a very good example to juniors because she
\nknew how to be a champion. \"She works harder if she loses a
\ntournament.\"<\/p>\n
Separately, Minarni, the Uber Cup team coach in the 1980s and
\nearly 1990s, said Susi had the right to retire.<\/p>\n
\"The juniors must start thinking about replacing her and stop
\ndepending on her in team events,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"Badminton officials, especially those responsible for
\nathletes development, must ensure the juniors move out of her
\nshadow.\"<\/p>\n
Rudy, a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, said yesterday's coaching
\nclinics at the Setia Kawan II dormitory in Kelapa Gading, North
\nJakarta, were held to mark Children's Day, which fell on July 23,
\nand to entertain street children. Twelve children took part in
\nthe clinic and 50 watched.<\/p>\n
\"It's a very good thing for athletes to support street
\nchildren, who face a very hard life. They must earn money to live
\nand, sometimes, to feed their families. I respect them for their
\nhard work,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"If we find talented players we will try to place them in the
\nnearest club. Who knows, some of them might have the potential to
\nbe national players.\"<\/p>\n
The UNDP's resident representative, Ravi Rajan, also attended
\nyesterday's clinics together with volunteers from the Indonesian
\nChildren's Welfare Foundation (YKAI).<\/p>\n
A second clinic is scheduled to take place in a street
\nchildren's dormitory in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, in
\nSeptember and a third will be staged for young girls who live on
\nthe street in October. (yan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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