Etty/Cynthia want SEA Games gold in first debut

Etty/Cynthia want SEA Games gold in first debut

JAKARTA (JP): In November 1996, nobody was sure if the new
partnership of shuttlers Etty Lesmina Tantra, better known as
Etty Tantri, and Cynthia Tuwankotta would be a success.

Then they debuted by winning the 1997 India Open in February,
followed by a victory in the 1997 French Open in March, the 1997
Poland Open in March and the 1997 JVC Asia Badminton
Championships in August.

This year, the second best women's doubles team in the
country, after Elysa Nathanael and Deyana Lomban, will try to top
off what has so far been a fantastic ride by winning the women's
doubles gold medal at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in
Brunei Darussalam from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

"We're excited to compete at the SEA Games because this is our
first multisport event," Cynthia said.

"We won some Grand Prix tournaments in 1997, but none in 1998.
This year we are aiming at a gold in the Games as a cure for our
disappointingly poor form last year," Etty said.

Etty and Cynthia are like fire and ice. Etty loves to spend
her time in her room listening to music or watching movies, while
Cynthia is crazy about hanging out at the Hard Rock Cafe, her
favorite spot to relax.

But they have something in common; they never dreamed they
would be world-class shuttlers.

"I wanted to be a businesswoman when I was admitted to
Tarumanegara University. But I was asked to join the National
Badminton Center in 1993, and since then I promised myself I
would take the sport seriously," said Etty, the youngest of four
children.

"I never joined a (badminton) club when I was little because
my father coached me and my two brothers when we were young. But
I competed for the Mollucas chapter of the Ministry of Education
and Culture when we lived in Ambon. In 1993, the Tangkas club
asked me to join, and I started to work at the sport seriously,"
said Cynthia, the youngest of five children.

Etty and Cynthia usually discuss their performances after
matches to evaluate their weaknesses. Etty is the playmaker,
while Cynthia is better known for her smashes and play at the
net.

"Sometimes we watch videotapes from other top doubles teams
with coach Imelda Wiguna. We also often get input from other
doubles players at the center," Etty said.

Etty, who was born in Selatpanjang Island in Riau on Oct. 14,
1975, said the duo had to work harder "because as of now, we
haven't reached our best. We want to win every tournament we
compete in."

Cynthia, born in Ambon on June 28, 1977, thanked her father
for the training he provided her when she was younger.

"If Papa didn't train me really hard and didn't sacrifice
everything to move to Jakarta just for me, I don't think I could
have gotten this far," she said.

The duo is ranked ninth by the International Badminton
Federation, and is the seventh ranked women's doubles team in
Asia.

Their toughest test at the SEA Games will come from Thailand's
Sujitra Eakmongkolpaisarn and Saralee Thunthongkam.

"The Thai pair is good, but the Malaysian doubles teams can
also be a threat," said Etty, who admires former Chinese shuttler
Li Lingwei.

"We can't be careless and underestimate other country's pairs,
said Cynthia, who would like to model her game after Chinese
doubles specialist Ge Fei.

Head coach Christian Hadinata complimented the partnership.
"They are the second best duo we have. Etty, with her serious
commitment and discipline, is a perfect combination for the
highly talented Cynthia, who is rather moody in training and
competition. If they set some goals, I think they can reach
them.".(yan)