Badminton

Oh yes, I am a huge fan of this sport, even though I have zero skill in playing it on the court.  But this sport has become one thing that I grew up along with.

I grew up watching this sport aired on all channels every time there was a world event where Indonesia took part. Together with the family, spectating on it through the television that in that time united to broadcast those events, whether it was a group event like Thomas and Uber Cup, Individual event such as All-England, Indonesian Open or multiple event which the most prestigious one is Olympic games.  Thought that's another form of "Unity" we had back then.

I don't know, every time I watch those athletes compete there some kind of fire and spirit that burns among the cheers and yells. Though the athletes themselves couldn't even hear us.

Ah, still remember it, the time when We, Indonesia, were so glorious. In the era of  1990's. 1994 and 1996 to be exact, We have this queen and this prodigy, Susi Susanti and Mia Audina. Not to miss those talented players suc as : Eliza, Zelin Resiana, Deyana lomban, Lidya Djaelawijaya, and Meiluawati which will make you say "Meilua who?" because i'm sure her name sounded unfamiliar. They brought out all of the potencies and fihting spirit to tear down "the great wall of china" which inhabited by world class player like Ye Zhaoying, Gong Zhicao, Zhang Ning. And the result is Indonesia seize The 1994 and 1996 Uber Cup. Even back then, this event echoed all over Indonesia, and the people so excited that one of my cousin named her newly-born daughter after Mia Audina, who won the final decisive match against Zhang Ning  and brought Indonesia to victory.

And of course, which is no less great, -even greater- with classy 5 times consecutive final winning and brougth Thomas cup to Indonesia since 1994 until 2002, We have brilliant single player such as Heryanto Arbi, Joko Suprianto, Ardy B.Wiranata, Hendrawan, even this young-talented Taufik Hidayat. And without any question, those double players recognized by Badminton world as the most creative and the best in its era, We have Ricky Subagja-Rexy Mainaky, Antonius-Denny Kantono, Gunawan-Bambang Suprianto, Chandra Wijaya-Sigit Budiarto, Tony Gunawan-Halim Haryanto.

Well, looks like it's been a long time we never heard such. Contrarily, not a while ago in the latest Thomas-Uber Cup event, Indonesia couldn't even make it to the semifinal. We are defeated in the quarterfinal by the team which is never counted as a formidable opponent, Japan. Especially for Thomas Cup event, this is the first time Indonesia can't reach the semis.

As a lay audience, I'm absurdly sad. It is just that I remember how excited I was back then, watching them playing impeccably. But now all I see that Indonesian players playing with no spirit and making so many unforced errors. Seemingly it's so easy for the opponent to gain every point.

Yeah, maybe it's true that people said everything has its own time. once in a peak position then in a lowest time. And for this time being, Indonesia is falling to its lowest time.

-Faithful Spectator-