Ellen still unsure of future after victory

JAKARTA (JP): Sometimes the absence of heavy pressure and demanding responsibilities can boost someone's performance to a higher level, just as it has for former top women's singles shuttler Ellen Angelina who snatched the women's singles title on Sunday at the US$170,000 Sanyo Indonesian Open.

Ellen, who quit the Indonesian Badminton Center earlier this year after her poor performance in the All England, said she did not expect to perform so well after defeating top seed Wang Chen of Hong Kong 7-5, 7-3, 5-7, 7-4.

"This is my first Grand Prix series title and I didn't expect it at all. I just played lightly without any pressure to win the match," she told a post-match conference.

"Perhaps the fact that I am no longer in the center boosted my performance. Besides, Wang did not play well."

Born on June 30, 1976, in the Central Java town of Salatiga, the oldest daughter of Suprapto Sandianto and Koh Swie Leng's three children started to play badminton when she was 10 years old.

"My father introduced me to the sport. All of my family members also play badminton. Later, I joined Djarum team.

"I was recruited to the center in 1995 but I have never really made it to the top by grabbing titles. The best performances were entering the finals.

"But, lately I felt that I hadn't made any progress. I then decided to quit the center because I always lost in the earlier rounds. It was so exhausting," Ellen said.

Ellen's best achievement in 2000 was entering the final of the Asian Badminton Championships here last November, where she lost to Chinese rookie Xie Xinfang.

In the 1999 Indonesian Open in Bali, Ellen was defeated by Lidya Djaelawidjaya in the final.

"That's why I submitted a resignation letter on March 9. I wanted to concentrate on my study. Now I take a private Mandarin course besides badminton training," Ellen said.

"Coach Liang Chiu Sia trains me privately. I have more time to do other activities as my schedule is lighter than when I was still at the center.

"But not being in the training program has its own problems. For example, I have to find my own sponsors and arrange my own schedule."

Indonesia's national shuttlers currently have a collective contract with Japanese sports goods manufacturer Yonex, while Ellen has just signed a one-year contract with Yonex's Japan- based competitor Gosen.

Ellen is still unsure about her future career after leaving the center, saying she will just live life day by day.

"I will still play in the World Grand Prix Finals in Brunei Darussalam and the JVC Asian Badminton Championships in the Philippines," she said.

"But I don't know what's next yet. Maybe I will still play until 2002. After that, who knows?" (nvn)