Thousands swarm the streets to join Thomas Cup parade
Thousands swarm the streets to join Thomas Cup parade
By Ivy Susanti
JAKARTA (JP): Old and young people thronged the streets on
Tuesday to join the euphoric celebration of the Thomas Cup
victory.
Mothers took their children to the streets while young girls
with casual T-shirts and school uniforms could not restrain
hysterical outbursts of elation at seeing their male idols
standing on the open-deck of six jeeps waving at them.
Some of them rode motorcycles and minivans to chase the jeeps
and ask for autographs or take pictures.
Almost all members of the Indonesian men's team, including
Taufik Hidayat, Hendrawan, Ricky A. Subagja, Rexy Mainaky,
Marleve Mainaky, Chandra Wijaya, Tony Gunawan, Heryanto Arbi,
Sigit Budiarto and Antonius Budi Ariantho took part in the
parade, which started at the National Sports Council (KONI)
headquarter in Senayan, Central Jakarta and ended at Badminton
training center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.
But Tuesday's euphoria apparently did not belong to the women
shuttlers. Lydia Djaelawidjaja, Ellen Angelina, Yuli Marfuah,
Ninik Masrikah, Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta preferred to
observe the rowdy celebration from inside their cars.
The Indonesian men thrashed China 3-0 to win the Thomas Cup
for the fourth consecutive time and their 12th victory since
1958. The Indonesian women's team lost 0-3 to China in the Uber
Cup semifinals, then China retained its title with a 3-0 win over
Denmark.
At some streets, the crowd was upset that they could not meet
the Uber Cup team members. "Where are the Uber Cup members?" they
shouted.
The older generation had a different outlook. Many of them
were seen greeting Christian Hadinata, former renown Indonesian
shuttler and current training director of the Badminton
Association of Indonesia.
A fan who identified himself as Winarto, 30, rode his
motorcycle from one vehicle to the next along M.H. Thamrin in
Central Jakarta and Gajah Mada street in West Jakarta asking for
his T-shirt to be signed by the shuttlers.
"I have collected the autographs of Tony Gunawan, Hendrawan,
Ricky," he said happily from his motorcycle. He also said that
Lydia, Yuli and Ellen had signed his T-shirt.
"I have followed the parade since it kicked off at KONI. My
favorite shuttlers are Ricky and Rexy," he said, referring to the
famous Indonesian doubles pair who earned the only gold for the
country in 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
He proudly showed his new black cap, just given to him by
Ricky.
At another crossroad, Yeni and her cousin Yeli raced their
Kijang minivan to ask the male shuttlers for autographs.
"I got Sigit's and Chandra's autograph," Yeni yelled from her
minivan. She got out of the car amid the heavy traffic jam along
Bogor Raya street to approach the shuttlers for their autographs.
Young girls with school uniforms shouted to their favorite
shuttlers from the street and hopped with excitement after they
managed to shake hands with the shuttlers.
The trip was not so raucous in the beginning because only a
few pedestrians greeted the shuttlers from the street. But the
trip turned festive as the parade passed the Hotel Indonesia
roundabout.
KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said before sending the
shuttlers to the street that the victory belongs to the nation
and not merely the athletes.