Susi wants Olympic medal for her wedding gift
Susi wants Olympic medal for her wedding gift
ATLANTA, Georgia (Agencies): Olympic champion Susi Susanti is
out to win another medal in badminton as a wedding present for
her fiance.
Already the most successful woman player of all time, Susi now
has the ambition to write a romantic postscript to one of the
most remarkable love stories in sport.
Four years ago when badminton made its Olympic debut in
Barcelona, the legendary Indonesian won her country's first
Olympic gold medal in history. Two hours later, Alan Budikusuma,
the man she plans to marry next February, won the second gold.
Badminton provides Indonesia again with its only realistic
hope of a medal this time. Despite taking part in the Olympics
since 1952, Indonesia had never won an Olympic gold until the
double successes in 1992.
"I don't mind what color it is, but I will win another medal
for him," says 26-year-old Susi, who plans to spend the next year
"learning how to be a housewife".
Alan, who had talked of retirement, says he will play on for
another year after defending his Olympic title. Although the
couple have been together for nine years, he is still uncertain
how he will make his income when he retires from professional
badminton.
"I think we can both win medals again, but after that I need
time to think about work," Alan said. "I'd prefer it not to be in
sport any more. It will be in business or something and I want to
create an entirely new situation."
"Susi looks on me as a kind of a brother. We travel together
all the time. What I most admire about her is she is so tough. If
she decides something is to happen it will."
Stiff opposition
Alan, ranked fourth in the world, now faces stiff opposition
from compatriot Joko Suprianto, who was in outstanding form
during the Thomas Cup.
World champion Hariyanto Arbi is another Indonesian with good
chances of winning the gold.
The biggest challengers from elsewhere include Dong Jiong of
China and stylish Dane Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen, the only serious
European threat to the Asians.
Quietly, Susi has decided that gold will be hers again.
Although she suffered a series of defeats to her two main rivals
in the past 18 months and is seeded only second, her unbeaten run
in the Uber Cup world team championships in Hong Kong in May has
convinced her she is as good as ever.
"Ye Zhaoying is the top seed and Bang Soo-hyun won the All-
England, but I am more motivated and confident now. Before the
Barcelona Olympics no-one beat me in the Uber Cup and I went on
to get gold. The same could happen again," she said.
"I admire Alan because he is very patient in looking after me
and in protecting me, and always gives me suggestions and
support. He is like my father. I'm not frightened about stopping
and giving up this way of life. When I have him, why should I
be?"
The women's event has been weakened by the absence of Sweden's
Chinese-born player Lim Xiaoqing, world number one last year, who
has a knee injury.
Due to Lim's injury, Indonesian teenager Mia Audina has been
moved into the seedings. Mia, 17, comes in at number eight to add
strength to her growing challenge to become the successor to
Susi.
South Korea won both doubles titles in Barcelona but
Indonesian men's pair Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky are
favorites this time. China poses a serious threat in the women's
doubles.
The mixed doubles is being played for the first time.