Mia makes her return, Raj king for a day
Mia makes her return, Raj king for a day
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
FEELING AT HOME: Istora Senayan sports hall holds a lot of
memories for Indonesian-born Mia Audina Tjiptawan.
Although she left for the Netherlands in 1999 after marrying
Tylo Lobman, Mia is pleased to be back in her old hunting ground
for the ongoing Djarum Indonesia Open.
It was in the Central Jakarta sports hall that Mia, then a
talented 14 year old, helped the national squad triumph in the
Uber Cup women's team event.
She has played here again since moving to Europe, but the
reception from some local fans was not always welcoming.
Thankfully, it was a bit different for the eighth seed on
Wednesday.
"I heard more clapping than people taunting me," she said
after sweeping Korean Kim Sun Me 11-0, 11-0.
Mia said she would give up the game when it was time to have
children with her husband, who is of Surinamese descent.
"In the future, I might become a coach if somebody offered the
job to me."
BIG DAY: On Wednesday's first day of competition, fans began
filing in at 2 p.m. to see World and Olympic champion Taufik
Hidayat.
Very few knew anything about his opponent, Raj Popat, a player
of Indian descent who was born in Birmingham but now lives in
Wales.
The 19 year old has trained for two months at Tangkas Bogasari
Club here, and he said many of his club mates teased him when he
was drawn to play Taufik.
Although he never seriously tested the third seed, at least
Raj did not disgrace himself, although he admitted he was shaking
when he came on court.
"I had a great experience playing with a legend as I started
my first major tournament," he told The Jakarta Post.
Raj, who will return to Wales this week, is targeting a top 20
place within the next three years.
STUDY SESSION: Malaysian head coach Yap Kim Hock, who does his
best to watch all of his players in action, says he has no
specific title target for the tournament.
Yap, who brought a 32-strong team of shuttlers, wants them to
get experience from playing in Indonesia.
"We want to learn more from Indonesia, especially in the men's
double category. That is why we have Rexy Mainaky," Yap said of
the former top Indonesian doubles champion with Ricky Subagja.
He obviously holds no hard feelings for his 1996 Olympic final
defeat, with partner Cheah Soon Kit, to the Indonesian pair in a
thrilling 15-12 deciding game. (004)