Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir to split

[Loh]

Jakarta Globe
August 25, 2009


By Sandy Pramuji

Indonesia’s Badminton Dream Team Split Up Ahead Of Taiwan Tourney

When the Taiwan Grand Prix Gold starts today, Liliyana Natsir will open a new chapter in her badminton career.

Longtime partner Nova Widianto, who has repeatedly said he is too old to compete at the highest level, asked the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) to find another partner for Liliyana, and the association answered by sending Muhammad Rijal for a trial run in Taiwan.

“Just like Nova has been guiding me throughout my career, now I’m ready to be Rijal’s mentor,” Liliyana, 24, said on Tuesday.

Rijal and Liliyana’s first test is today’s first-round match against Terry Yeo and Li Yujia of Singapore at Hsingchuang Stadium.

Liliyana and Nova had been together since 2004 and became one of the best mixed doubles teams in the world. Together they won 13 tournaments, including world championship titles in 2005 and 2007.

But since winning the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, their performances tailed off, with only one Super Series title this year, a victory in the Malaysia Open in January.

They lost to Denmark’s Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl in the world championship final in Hyderabad, India, earlier this month.

After the worlds, mixed doubles coach Richard Mainaky admitted that Nova was not as fast and strong as before. The PBSI started the search for Liliyana’s new partner with Rijal (23), Fran Kurniawan (24) and Tantowi Ahmad (21) the main candidates.

At first, the coach chose Tantowi to have a test run with Liliyana in Taiwan.

He switched to Rijal after Rijal’s partner, Debby Susanto, injured her back in training last week and could not go to the tournament.

Rijal has one decided advantage over the rest of the candidates.

He is the only one of the three to win a Super Series title, having claimed the Japan Open mixed doubles crown with Vita Marissa last year.

Rijal and Vita were seen as a promising pair to take over Nova and Liliyana’s spot, but Vita left the national team earlier this year when she and the PBSI could not agree on contract terms.

Before Vita, the Tangerang-born Rijal was partnered with Greysia Polii. Their best showing was a runner-up finish at the Swiss Open Super Series.

Rijal’s best achievement this year with Debby was the semifinals of the Philippine Open Grand Prix Gold and Vietnam International Challenge.

With Liliyana and Rijal still undergoing a try-out period, they will only compete together in second- and third-tier tournaments.

“We’ll assess their performance after the Taiwan tournament,” national team head coach Christian Hadinata said. “For Super Series tournaments, Liliyana will still play with Nova, at least until the end of this year, because they are still the best that we have.”

[SibugiChai]

I wonder why Nova Widianto is such a succesful mixed double player but never play in men doubles?

[george@chongwei]

I wonder why Nova Widianto is such a succesful mixed double player but never play in men doubles?
Maybe no perfect md partner for him or he only wants to focus in the mixed doubles;)

[Makunouchi]

Very sad to hear the news. They are the only competitive players from Indonesia that I know aside from Kido & Setiawan who can challenge the best players and win. Hope to the new pairing would be very successful in the future.

[ctjcad]

I wonder why Nova Widianto is such a succesful mixed double player but never play in men doubles?
..he is no Lee Yongdae...

Tease aside, i think it's about time Liliyana finally gets a newer, fresher partner. I don't know how well this new partnership will bloom into, but hopefully with a renewed vigor and youth, on their side, this XD pairing will be a XD pair to be reckoned with.

[narnia]

I wonder why Nova Widianto is such a succesful mixed double player but never play in men doubles?

I've heard from BadMania that INA doesn't allow their National Team members play in two categories.

But, in 2007 maybe at ABC, he had played with Candra Wijaya, in which they did good performance until finally being defeated by the KOR duo.

:)

[tjiang2]

I wonder why Nova Widianto is such a succesful mixed double player but never play in men doubles?

He is BAC 2008 Men's doubles runner up with Candra Wijaya... as their preparation for 2008 Thomas Cup. In Thomas Cup, they also played once.

[badMania]

It's a tradition that INA's MD players (especially the top pairs) will NEVER BE ALLOWED to play XD simultaneously. Can you recall Ricky/Rexy, Tony/Candra, Tony/Halim, Candra/Sigit, Luluk/Alvent or Kido/Hendra playing Mixed? Similarly for the younger pairs like Bona/Ahsan. The trend might change in the future with the emergence of players like Mohd Ulinnuha, who can play in both events, but, again, it will have to depend on their coaches, once Ulin joins Pelatnas sometime next year :cool:

On the other hand, the men's players in the Mixed Doubles are usually those players who have had enough of Men's Doubles or could not break the ranks. For example: Tri Kusharyanto, Flandy Limpele (he switched to XD only after his MD partner retired from the National Team), Nova Widianto.

Nova was instructed to play MD only for 1 event (the BAC 2008) in preparation of the Thomas Cup 2008 and that too because INA's second MD was poor and we had to rely on Candra and Nova's experience at that time.

[Qidong]

I wonder why Nova Widianto is such a succesful mixed double player but never play in men doubles?

Nova is good at finding and placing the shuttle to hard-to-reached spots. But in MD, the pace is so fast, it's just all smashing and driving. His style may not be good in MD.

[ye333]

Nova has been guiding Lilyana? Huh? I think Lilyana always seems pissed at Nova's mistakes... :D


Jakarta Globe
August 25, 2009


By Sandy Pramuji

Indonesia’s Badminton Dream Team Split Up Ahead Of Taiwan Tourney

When the Taiwan Grand Prix Gold starts today, Liliyana Natsir will open a new chapter in her badminton career.

Longtime partner Nova Widianto, who has repeatedly said he is too old to compete at the highest level, asked the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) to find another partner for Liliyana, and the association answered by sending Muhammad Rijal for a trial run in Taiwan.

“Just like Nova has been guiding me throughout my career, now I’m ready to be Rijal’s mentor,” Liliyana, 24, said on Tuesday.

Rijal and Liliyana’s first test is today’s first-round match against Terry Yeo and Li Yujia of Singapore at Hsingchuang Stadium.

Liliyana and Nova had been together since 2004 and became one of the best mixed doubles teams in the world. Together they won 13 tournaments, including world championship titles in 2005 and 2007.

But since winning the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, their performances tailed off, with only one Super Series title this year, a victory in the Malaysia Open in January.

They lost to Denmark’s Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl in the world championship final in Hyderabad, India, earlier this month.

After the worlds, mixed doubles coach Richard Mainaky admitted that Nova was not as fast and strong as before. The PBSI started the search for Liliyana’s new partner with Rijal (23), Fran Kurniawan (24) and Tantowi Ahmad (21) the main candidates.

At first, the coach chose Tantowi to have a test run with Liliyana in Taiwan.

He switched to Rijal after Rijal’s partner, Debby Susanto, injured her back in training last week and could not go to the tournament.

Rijal has one decided advantage over the rest of the candidates.

He is the only one of the three to win a Super Series title, having claimed the Japan Open mixed doubles crown with Vita Marissa last year.

Rijal and Vita were seen as a promising pair to take over Nova and Liliyana’s spot, but Vita left the national team earlier this year when she and the PBSI could not agree on contract terms.

Before Vita, the Tangerang-born Rijal was partnered with Greysia Polii. Their best showing was a runner-up finish at the Swiss Open Super Series.

Rijal’s best achievement this year with Debby was the semifinals of the Philippine Open Grand Prix Gold and Vietnam International Challenge.

With Liliyana and Rijal still undergoing a try-out period, they will only compete together in second- and third-tier tournaments.

“We’ll assess their performance after the Taiwan tournament,” national team head coach Christian Hadinata said. “For Super Series tournaments, Liliyana will still play with Nova, at least until the end of this year, because they are still the best that we have.”

[ye333]

I think I have heard somewhere that Limpele played XD before 1998. Is that true?


It's a tradition that INA's MD players (especially the top pairs) will NEVER BE ALLOWED to play XD simultaneously. Can you recall Ricky/Rexy, Tony/Candra, Tony/Halim, Candra/Sigit, Luluk/Alvent or Kido/Hendra playing Mixed? Similarly for the younger pairs like Bona/Ahsan. The trend might change in the future with the emergence of players like Mohd Ulinnuha, who can play in both events, but, again, it will have to depend on their coaches, once Ulin joins Pelatnas sometime next year :cool:

On the other hand, the men's players in the Mixed Doubles are usually those players who have had enough of Men's Doubles or could not break the ranks. For example: Tri Kusharyanto, Flandy Limpele (he switched to XD only after his MD partner retired from the National Team), Nova Widianto.

Nova was instructed to play MD only for 1 event (the BAC 2008) in preparation of the Thomas Cup 2008 and that too because INA's second MD was poor and we had to rely on Candra and Nova's experience at that time.

[Qidong]

Nova has been guiding Lilyana? Huh? I think Lilyana always seems pissed at Nova's mistakes... :D

She will be an excellent politician. :D

[ctjcad]

It's a tradition that INA's MD players (especially the top pairs) will NEVER BE ALLOWED to play XD simultaneously.
...
On the other hand, the men's players in the Mixed Doubles are usually those players who have had enough of Men's Doubles or could not break the ranks. For example: Tri Kusharyanto, Flandy Limpele (he switched to XD only after his MD partner retired from the National Team), Nova Widianto.
...
..and personally, i don't think it's so much abt them "never be allowed to play XD simultaneously". I'm sure many of those MD players could play XD. But rather, the style/approach of play for both events are different & they probably don't have the talents/players. XD & MD specialists are more like a hybrid, tweener doubles player.
Btw, you forgot to mention, arguably, the best doubles player in INA baddy history: Christian Hadinata.:cool:

[bradmyster]

Sad that Nova is will finally most likely retire. No doubt he will have some involvement in INA badminton when he retires though.. His experience would be priceless to the younger players!

[Sandy]

I think I have heard somewhere that Limpele played XD before 1998. Is that true?

Yes, he played in 1996 Atlanta Olympics in XD (paired with Risyeu Rosalina)

[flo-J]

haha...just like Gao ling always pissed at zheng bo's mistakes,,:D

Nova has been guiding Lilyana? Huh? I think Lilyana always seems pissed at Nova's mistakes... :D

[bradmyster]

haha...just like Gao ling always pissed at zheng bo's mistakes,,:D

And then Zheng Bo seemed pissed at Ma Jin's mistakes!! Chain reaction! haha

[Athelete1234]

haha...just like Gao ling always pissed at zheng bo's mistakes,,:D
Who then proceeds to get pissed off at his racquet's mistakes (see HK open 2007 picture thread):D:D

[madbad]

And then Zheng Bo seemed pissed at Ma Jin's mistakes!! Chain reaction! haha

And Yu Yang is always nagging poor He Hanbin. Yu Yang - now that's an alpha woman :p

[flo-J]

Lilyana at Nova
Gao Ling at Zheng Bo
Yu Yang at Hanbin.......

Girl power la~~ seems all the man bent on women knees...^^V

And Yu Yang is always nagging poor He Hanbin. Yu Yang - now that's an alpha woman :p

[george@chongwei]

Lilyana at Nova
Gao Ling at Zheng Bo
Yu Yang at Hanbin.......

Girl power la~~ seems all the man bent on women knees...^^V
But in terms of smash in the game, men power:D:D
But not sure if this will be the same if Du Jing is to pair up with 1 of the male player:p:o

[ye333]

is similar to Ma Jin vs Zheng Bo -- The girl is young and inexperienced, while the partner is already an established figure in the XD circuit. Different from Gao Ling vs Zheng Bo and Yu Yang vs He Hanbin (the latter more like Gao Ling vs Zheng Jun).

I have been impressed by Lilyana's confidence on court since 2004 China Open. :D

[venkatesh]

I don't see Lilyana getting pissed off. She's so calm on court.

She needs a partner who's a great smasher as she's very great in putting out the phase and gently placing the shuttle in the right spot.

I've seen Rijal/Susanto play. Unfortunately, Debbie's defence is not that strong yet. Now, talk about LiLyana, she has this ability to calmly defend and return the shuttle in an open space.

Rijal is promising. I hope their partnership works out. They were able to reach the quarter finals at the Chinese Taipei grand prix gold. I hope they get used to each other soon.

[etudiant]

finally Nova partnership with Lily will end.....sad as they are best mix that Ina had since Trikus/Minarti.....

[Loh]

I thought Nova played relatively well in yesterday's AE XD final but was not really well supported by Natsir. They could have won over the young China pair. :(

[weeyeh]

Indeed, Nova was stellar but Natsir lack her normal sharpness. Quite a number of unforced errors from trying too hard to control the direction and pace.

[Kodok]

That's good........................!

[naistav]

Indeed, Nova was stellar but Natsir lack her normal sharpness. Quite a number of unforced errors from trying too hard to control the direction and pace.
Yup. And I think Lily's smash isn't too hard and let the opponent easily return.
She's more a deceptive and controller player but in AE2010, she wasn't her.
Feel sad for Nova, he should have won his first and probably last AE title.

[badMania]

But I thought Nova was also contributing his fair share of errors, made towards the end of the 3rd set. That characteristics of his is still there, especially in nervy moments.

[ctjcad]

But I thought Nova was also contributing his fair share of errors, made towards the end of the 3rd set. That characteristics of his is still there, especially in nervy moments.
..sometimes when i watched his body language and facial expressions, i too can get nervy...what with his habit of blinking his eyes and looking a bit confused..

[naistav]

But I thought Nova was also contributing his fair share of errors, made towards the end of the 3rd set. That characteristics of his is still there, especially in nervy moments.
Nova did contribute some errors as his characteristics. Lily didn't commit too much errors as well. But Lily didn't provide winners as many as she used to. She missed some sure points at the front with her usual interceptions. While she was at the back side, she was definitely not deadly. None of her smashes did kill ZN/ZYL or made ZN/ZYL return an easy shot. Meanwhile ZYL was so good to cover average Zhang Nan, although not flawless as well. On the other hand, ZN/ZYL defense was excellent.

[george@chongwei]

They are 'forced' to split because of Nova's age and soon gonna retire.

[PoLLuX]

hopefully after AE, Lilyana is focus to find her suitable partner and Nove guide his junior like Debby, Richi, Pia, Shendy, or Keshya. We still need his guidence to groom those players

[nick.h]

now that we know nova is on the brink of retirement from international circuits, is there any info on what he'll be doing after he is retired?i hope he chooses to coach the INA youngsters as he's very experienced in the mixed doubles field...maybe take the position as an assistant coach next to aryono?perhaps? :p but i agree with PoLLuX, hope he stays on the circuit for a while longer guiding one of the girls to become more like lilyana ;)

[huangkwokhau]

now that we know nova is on the brink of retirement from international circuits, is there any info on what he'll be doing after he is retired?i hope he chooses to coach the INA youngsters as he's very experienced in the mixed doubles field...maybe take the position as an assistant coach next to aryono?perhaps? :p but i agree with PoLLuX, hope he stays on the circuit for a while longer guiding one of the girls to become more like lilyana ;)
He has no one to guide as all have partners now...he will play with Butet on different tournaments...so Butet has "2 husbands":D:D
Richi is pairing with junior Rizky? ( nephew of Yanti, very tall guy...quite good)..they will be playing at Vietnam Challenge

[badMania]

He has no one to guide as all have partners now...he will play with Butet on different tournaments...so Butet has "2 husbands":D:D
Richi is pairing with junior Rizky? ( nephew of Yanti, very tall guy...quite good)..they will be playing at Vietnam Challenge

Richi Puspita is now paired with Mohd Rizky Dellynugraha (the former partner of Rendy Sugiarto in Pratama last year)?

[huangkwokhau]

Richi Puspita is now paired with Mohd Rizky Dellynugraha (the former partner of Rendy Sugiarto in Pratama last year)?
Yes...I think so...they call him " BOTAK"....

[Smichz]

I think Lily and Ahmad will do good.Ahmad's playstyle is similar to Nova,so i guess Lily won't have so many troubles on getting used to play with him.Good luck for both of them.Good luck for Nova also,for whatever he's up to after this.

[Dokkie]

I read something at badzine today that Lilyana will still play with Nova at the superseries, wow if that's true I'm really happy about that.

[miksss]

@Dokie:yap,you are right..
liliana will play with nova at ss,and play with de vin at gpg..

[Dokkie]

Well I'm happy about that, he'll at least play till the Asian Games am I right?

[miksss]

Maybe until OG2012..
Hope so..
i ever read an article about that..

[miksss]

Maybe until OG2012..
Hope so..
i ever read an article about that..

But now ina has many combo in Xd,frans/pia they beat yongdae/hyo jung,and the new combo Tantowi/Gresya..

[ninos alkatiri]

we prove in singapore open and open Indonesian

[ninos alkatiri]

we prove in singapore open and open Indonesianhttp://www.badmintoncentral.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gifhttp://www.badmintoncentral.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[naistav]

If split is an option, I tend to pair Nova with Greysia or other youngster to give winners mentality. From what I saw, Lilyana has nothing to improve but she can't lift other youngster. It's because I think it was Nova the key of their success.

[luvina]

Missing this pair in the court... :)
Sorry Tontowi :D

[Dokkie]

Me 2 Nova was old but good :( Vita Marissa not at the same level as Nova unfortunateley.

[wilcan]

Me 2 Nova was old but good :( Vita Marissa not at the same level as Nova unfortunateley.
wow
u just follow world badminton rite?? have u ever watching Vita play? she is one of the world best

[Dokkie]

Vita is good, but not at the same level as Lilyana IMO.

[miksss]

Lilyana is sharper than Vita in net. Recall when both with their partners are on their prime era, both are usually face each other in final. Perhaps someone can post Nova/Butet and Flandy/Vita h2h?

Unfortunately,just if Flandy/Vita can beat LYD/LHJ in OG 2008 semifinal...

[miksss]

oh,actually Flandy/Vita have 3-2 record against Nova/Butet.

[Dokkie]

That is the past, my friend :) Nowadays is a different story.

[Dokkie]

Wow Nova/Vita doing great in Thailand open, just the final to win!

[Thom_bad]

hey Nova will play with a yougster in MD at S'gapore open ! is this an efficient pairing ?

[george@chongwei]

Vita made way too much error during the final.. Nova played brilliantly with his strong wrist as usual.

[demolidor]

hey Nova will play with a yougster in MD at S'gapore open ! is this an efficient pairing ?

Apparently not and the partner is not a youngster anymore either, Yonathan Dasuki. Born in 1985 and former Dutch Open winners in 2007 or 8? 2007 I think ...

[chris-ccc]

hey Nova will play with a yougster in MD at S'gapore open ! is this an efficient pairing ?
.
At the 2011 Singapoe Open SS;

* Nova Widianto will partner with Vita Marissa (XD)
* Nova Widianto will partner with Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki (MD)

while;

* Tantowi Ahmad will partner with Liliyana Natsir (XD)
.

[Dokkie]

7, was against compatriots Wijaja/Kurniawan, who won in 2008 btw.

[Thom_bad]

.
At the 2011 Singapoe Open SS;

* Nova Widianto will partner with Vita Marissa (XD)
* Nova Widianto will partner with Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki (MD)

while;

* Tantowi Ahmad will partner with Liliyana Natsir (XD)
.


i know all this...

[Dokkie]

They should get Nova back with Lilyana, miss those days :(

[Thom_bad]

Nova's quit the PBSI months ago. well, actually he's been show the exit, so he'll never partner with Lilyana anymore

[Dokkie]

I know he won't, but he should nonetheless :D

[chris-ccc]

i know all this...
.
Sorry :o:o:o...

Not that I am saying that you didn't know, but it is just to add on more information to this thread. :):):)
.

[Dokkie]

It was a good effort Chris, sometimes we forget that so many of us are real hardcore fans :)

[Thom_bad]

btw, do you think that as an independant player he will play in the european SS tournaments ?

[Dokkie]

I hope he'll come to the Dutch Open! Might be a chance since Vita came last year :) I hope so, would love to see this legend live again. I gues he'll come to Denmark and French SS for sure.