Ellen still unsure of future after victory
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)