RI defector Audina hoping to sparkle in Sydney

RI defector Audina hoping to sparkle in Sydney

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP): At just 20 years of age, Holland's Indonesian-born badminton star Mia Audina has crammed so much into a turbulent career she ought to have one of the wisest heads on Olympic shoulders.

Six years ago, the sublimely gifted badminton player was the toast of the nation after holding her nerve amazingly to help Indonesia's women lift the Uber Cup in Jakarta in a tense final rubber.

At 14 she appeared to have the world at her feet. Two years later her quality was borne out once again when as a 16-year-old she reached the women's singles final at the Atlanta Olympics.

Facing South Korea's Bang Soo-hyun, she led 6-5 in the first game and 7-5 in the second, but Bang's extra experience told and the Korean took gold winning 11-6, 11-7.

Nevertheless Audina's silver-medal performance confirmed what the badminton world already knew. Here was a world number one in waiting.

But the years between Atlanta and Sydney have been difficult for Audina, to say the least.

In April last year her mother died. Prior to that she had already fallen out spectacularly with Indonesia's badminton officialdom.

Audina, engaged to a Dutch gospel singer and settled happily in the Netherlands, wanted to shuttle back and forth to Indonesia for international training.

The badminton authorities demanded she live in Indonesia however, and when she refused she was unceremoniously dumped from the international set-up. Talk of her retirement was rampant.

But refreshed from a break, which had seen her become a naturalized Dutch citizen, she announced her desire to represent the Netherlands in Sydney.

Initially the Indonesian Badminton Association had been expected to block the request, but when they agreed the way was clear for Audina to start her Olympic preparations in earnest.

The break from the game has left her yet to rediscover her best form, and she had a torrid time in the Indonesian Open in July.

The Jakarta crowd booed her mercilessly during a quarterfinals defeat to Indonesia's Lidya Djaelawidjaja. Typically, Audina remained unfazed.

"I know how I can play, and that's all that matters. I'm not worried by any of my results this year... all that matters are the results in Sydney," she said.