Guess What? Hariyanto Arbi

The love story between the 1995 world badminton champion Hariyanto Arbi and his long-time sweetheart Wiwiek Wiral sounds as if it might have come from a movie.

Hariyanto, better known as Hari, met Wiwiek in a restaurant in Singapore in 1995 when he was competing in a tournament on the island.

In their second encounter in a hotel lobby, Hari dared himself to ask for Wiwiek's phone number. Soon after they became inseparable and got engaged in 1997.

On Sunday Feb. 20 the couple got married in a wedding ceremony at Bunda Hati Kudus Church in West Jakarta. A glamorous wedding reception was held later in the evening at Hotel Mulia Senayan's ballroom.

Many badminton icons attended Hari's reception, including former vice president Try Sutrisno, vice chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) Arie Sudewo, former state minister of youth affairs and sports Hayono Isman and the 1992 Olympic gold medalists Susy Susanti and Alan Budikusuma.

Hari, who sparked controversy last year due to his plan to move to Singapore, said he and Wiwiek would reside in his apartment in West Jakarta. (yan)