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.