Living in foreign countries brings maturity: Shuttler Agus
Living in foreign countries brings maturity: Shuttler Agus
JAKARTA (JP): As one of the world's badminton powerhouses,
Indonesia has proven its capability of producing many talents of
international standard.
But the competition in the country has been very tough and
forced some of the badminton proteges -- groomed in the
Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta -- to
resign for failing to survive the rivalry.
Fung Permadi, who is now playing for China Taipei, is one
example. He reached last year's World Championships final in
Copenhagen.
Agus Hariyanto followed in Fung's footsteps in 1998 when he
found there was no place for him in Cipayung. But unlike Fung,
Agus opted for Hong Kong.
Friday's defeat to home favorite Taufik Hidayat in the Sanyo
Indonesia Open quarterfinals did not frustrate Agus, who drew
spectators' applause when playing.
"I always want to beat Indonesian players every time I meet
them in international tournaments. I'm still an Indonesian but I
have to be professional as now I'm playing for Hong Kong," he
said.
Agus, who still holds the Jaya Raya badminton club membership
card, joined the national center in 1995 before quitting in 1998.
"I resigned because I couldn't cope with the tough competition
at the center. I played for Hong Kong for one and a half years
before they allowed me to compete for the country in November."
Agus said his key to success in surviving the tough world of
badminton is hard work.
"I came to Hong Kong only as a sparring player but I managed
to persuade the coach and I proved that I'm good enough to play
in big tournaments."
Like other Indonesian players, who seek a better life abroad,
Agus admits that living alone in another country has encouraged
him to be more independent and mature.
"I think I'm mentally more matured because I have to take care
of everything, although in Hong Kong I'm lucky to live in the
national team dormitory which is separated from the Hong Kong
natives dorm. They said it's to avoid the jealousy from the Hong
Kong natives."
"When playing for Indonesia, I had the burden of wanting to
keep winning in all tournaments I competed in. It made me tense."
But Agus declined to mention his contract figure with the Hong
Kong national team. "It's a secret," he smiled. (yan)