Marlev wins motivation with birth of his son
Marlev wins motivation with birth of his son
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Olympic badminton player Marlev Mario
Mainaky has gained confidence and motivation after the birth of a
son on Aug. 14.
Despite his position as the national squad's underdog, Marlev
can still threaten.
He said the birth of Alweyn Jantje Putra Mainaky had released
his mind.
"I don't have any wariness in my mind anymore. I can focus my
attention on the Olympics. I don't have any burdens although it's
my first Olympics. I consider it a regular Grand Prix series."
"I'm still recovering after falling sick before the Indonesian
Open. I'm still exercising to get fit and get my concentration in
the games."
Marlev, number eight in the International Badminton Federation
(IBF) list, admitted that the Badminton Association of Indonesia
(PBSI) was putting its hope on world number one Taufik Hidayat
and number three Hendrawan to win golds.
"I have to admit that Taufik and Hendrawan have a much bigger
chance than me to win the gold. But I don't want to easily give
up. I want to prove that PBSI can also count on me. Moreover, I
haven't won any titles since the 1993 US Open," he said after a
training session at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung,
East Jakarta, on Friday.
Marlev's best achievement was in the 1997 Indonesian Open when
he reached the final but lost to Ardy Wiranata.
In the Thomas Cup championships in Kuala Lumpur in May, he was
a national hero after beating Danish Kenneth Jonassen in the
semifinal when the position was 2-2.
Besides his team mates, the 28-year-old shuttler named Danish
Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen and Peter Gade Christensen, Chinese Xia
Xuanze and Malaysian Wong Choon Hann as tough contenders.
"From those shuttlers, I fear most Poul-Erik. I have never
beaten him in our three meets since 1993. He's really good in
setting a games rhythm and getting me to play fast. I usually
lose to him because I get impatient."
He also tipped Xia as the Chinese was very good both in
offense and defense.
"I must be very patient if I play Xia as he can play well in a
slow and fast rhythm."
Coach Mulyo Handoyo believes Marlev could be the dark horse of
the Olympics.
"He's a stylish player and he is good in both attack and
defense. I believe the birth of his son will motivate him. At the
very least, he will be going to Sydney to give a special present
to his son," he said. (yan)