Mia Audina's marriage plan sparks family feud

JAKARTA (JP): Mia Audina's passage to the altar faces an early test from her own father, Rivan Tjiptawan, who worries that her beleaguered career will instead hit a new low.

"I don't think Mia will perform better after her marriage," Rivan said, as quoted by Antara on Thursday.

"She's too young to marry. She should have focused her attention more on the sport she has chosen as her way of life," he added.

Mia, who will turn 20 in August, confirmed her plan to marry her boyfriend Tylio Lobman later this year in a Netherlands church at an unspecified date. She has insisted marriage would make her life steady and help her improve her battered form.

She is completing her studies at the special athletes junior high school in Ragunan, South Jakarta.

The country's Uber Cup heroine in 1994 and 1996 saw her performances nosedive in the past year. Taking over the national women's team leading role from predecessor Susi Susanti, Mia lost in the quarterfinals in both team and individual events at the Asian Games last December.

Rivan said Mia should learn from Susi, who decided to marry only after she collected major laurels, including an Olympic gold medal she won in 1992.

"I wish Mia would rethink her plan. She still has a bright future and talent to exploit," he said.

Mia has said her plan had received approval from the Badminton Association of Indonesia chairman, Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, but Rivan said he knew nothing about Mia's would-be groom.

"I'm in the dark about his background," Rivan said of Lobman. Rivan coached little Mia and served as her mentor off the court for a number of years.

"The badminton association should find out what has caused her drop in form. She could have done everything better," Rivan said.

Mia said she had been in love with the Suriname-born singer Lobman for one and a half years. Lobman has frequently been seen accompanying Mia on her outings since they first met in mid-1997.

"I feel she has left me since she met her boyfriend," Rivan complained.

When contacted by Antara, Susi said marriage would disrupt an athlete's concentration. "That's why I decided to marry only after I capped my badminton career," she said.

"Marriage gives an athlete additional responsibilities apart from his or her daily workouts. The athlete will face double pressures," said Susi, who is expecting a baby in two months. (amd)