Mia skips simulation match after mother's death

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best women's shuttler Mia Audina was forced to pull out of a simulation match on Wednesday for the Sudirman Cup and World Championships after her mother died from a stroke in the morning.

Mia was still in shock and unable to give interviews following her mother's death at 8:50 a.m. Calls to Mia's Taman Anggrek apartment were taken by her Surinamese husband Tylio Lobman.

He said they would attend the funeral mass Wednesday evening in Bogor, West Java.

Mia's mother, Lanny Susilawati, suffered from kidney failure and underwent weekly hemodialysis. Her body was kept at Sinar Kasih funeral parlor in Bogor.

Mia's father, Rivan Tjiptawan, said the funeral would take place on Saturday morning at about 10 a.m. at Gunung Gadung cemetery, Bogor.

Mia, 19, who had arrived at the Indonesia Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, for the simulation at the Armed Forces Headquarters, was called by her father to inform her that her mother was ailing. She drove her car to Bogor.

Rivan said Lanny's pulse grew increasingly weak before Mia's arrival. He and Mia's sister and brother, Yona and Egana, kept telling her that Mia would arrive soon.

Her pulse briefly became stronger and Mia arrived. She spent five minutes hugging her mother before she died.

"Mia was a bit hysterical. She kept shouting 'Mommy is not dead...' But I felt relieved as my wife could meet her beloved daughter before she passed away," Rivan told reporters in Bogor.

He said Lanny was disappointed when Mia did not visit to celebrate her mother's 51st birthday on Monday because she was busy preparing for the Sudirman Cup and World Championships in Copenhagen from May 10 to May 23. Mia called to congratulate her mother.

Rivan said his wife tried to cheer herself up by making cakes on Tuesday, but the task proved taxing for her.

On Tuesday evening, Lanny called her eldest daughter Yona, saying she could not feel anything in her hands and legs.

"I was out of town on Tuesday. If only I were at home, I would have forbidden her from cooking," Rivan said.

Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) vice chairman Agus Wirahadikusumah told reporters during the simulation that PBSI was deeply saddened by Mia's loss.

"We will understand if Mia is still in shock in the next few weeks. It depends on PBSI chairman (Subagyo Hadisiswoyo) to decide whether we will send Mia to Copenhagen or not," he said.

"In the future, we hope Mia will be able to overcome her grief and boost her fighting spirit."

PBSI officials will hold a special meeting to discuss Mia's condition.

In Wednesday's simulation, men's singles Taufik Hidayat beat senior Budi Santoso 12-15, 17-14, 15-6, and Hendrawan defeated veteran Hariyanto Arbi 15-9, 15-10. In the women's singles, Ellen Angelina eliminated Lidya Djaelawidjaja 8-11, 11-1, 13-12.

In the men's doubles, veterans Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky overcame All England champions Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan 8- 15, 15-13, 15-9. World number one Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian beat seniors Antonius and Denny Kantono 12-15, 15-8, 15-10.

In the women's doubles, Indarti Issoliana and Deyana Lomban were forced to default to Cynthia Tuwankotta and Etty Tantri 15- 11, 11-15, 0-3 after Indarti injured her back. Deyana and Carmelita beat Vita Marissa and Cynthia 15-5, 9-15, 15-8.

The veteran mixed doubles team of Tri Kusherjanto and Minarti Timur defeated Wahyu Agung and Emma Ermawati 15-7, 15-4, and the new partnership of Imam Tohari and Vita lost to Bambang Suprianto and Zelin Resiana 2-15, 14-17. (yan)