Women's shuttlers must work harder: Rudy

JAKARTA (JP): Former champion Rudy Hartono called on the nation's female badminton players to work harder if they want to take over the mantle of Susi Susanti, who plans to retire after the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December.

"Our female players must work harder to achieve better results in international tournaments. They must not be easily satisfied with their results. The sport isn't only based on skill. It also takes a lot of hard work," he said during a coaching clinic for street children sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Susi, 27, the 1992 Olympic champion and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, plans to retire and have children. She is married to the 1992 Olympic gold medalist Alan Budikusuma.

Badminton players should not only consider their prize money and sponsorship contracts. They must put their international achievements first, said Rudy, who won eight All England titles.

"If they win lots of international tournaments then they will get many contracts from sponsors," he said.

He said Susi was a very good example to juniors because she knew how to be a champion. "She works harder if she loses a tournament."

Separately, Minarni, the Uber Cup team coach in the 1980s and early 1990s, said Susi had the right to retire.

"The juniors must start thinking about replacing her and stop depending on her in team events," she said.

"Badminton officials, especially those responsible for athletes development, must ensure the juniors move out of her shadow."

Rudy, a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, said yesterday's coaching clinics at the Setia Kawan II dormitory in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, were held to mark Children's Day, which fell on July 23, and to entertain street children. Twelve children took part in the clinic and 50 watched.

"It's a very good thing for athletes to support street children, who face a very hard life. They must earn money to live and, sometimes, to feed their families. I respect them for their hard work," he said.

"If we find talented players we will try to place them in the nearest club. Who knows, some of them might have the potential to be national players."

The UNDP's resident representative, Ravi Rajan, also attended yesterday's clinics together with volunteers from the Indonesian Children's Welfare Foundation (YKAI).

A second clinic is scheduled to take place in a street children's dormitory in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, in September and a third will be staged for young girls who live on the street in October. (yan)