Badminton star confirms rumors of retirement

[ray]

www.thejakartapost.com

Badminton star confirms rumors of retirement

Indonesia's top men's doubles player Tony Gunawan shocked badminton fans by announcing his retirement from the Indonesian Badminton Center (PBI) in order to study abroad.

Tony - who this year won the All England and World Champion titles with partner Halim Haryanto - said he planned to continue studying computer science but rejected speculation that he would move to another country.

"I am an Indonesian and I will be the same. Even if I play abroad, it's more to earn income to finance my study. I won't represent another country in a multisports event. I promise you that," he told The Jakarta Post by phone on Tuesday.

"I'm aiming to study as I realize that badminton won't be able to guarantee my future. This is the right moment to start studying although I'm ready if my study isn't as successful as badminton. If I wait until my retirement, it's too late for me to continue studying," he said, giving a hint that he might study in the United States.

The Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games finalist, with Bambang Suprianto, said he preferred to study in a country which was no contest to Indonesia in badminton.

Rumors about Tony's retirement began circulating last week but he denied the speculation, saying he would make an announcement when he was ready.

Tony, who last year won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics with Candra Wijaya, denied that he had lost the motivation to play.

"Every time I remember the moment I was presented with the gold for Indonesia, I'm very proud. I really want to do that again in the future, but that's impossible."

He said he hadn't followed the path of his girlfriend Etty Tantri, Indonesia's women's double shuttler.

Etty quit badminton after competing at the Sudirman Cup and World Championships in Seville, Spain, in May, to continue studying in the United States.

Tony was born in Surabaya on April 9, 1975, the youngest of Budianto Gunawan and Handayani Halim's three children. He has won most Grand Prix series titles and multisports events, except the SEA Games and Asian Games golds.

Tony's partner Halim will team up with junior Lulu Hadianto and prepare for their debut in the Denmark Open this month.

Tony said he would still practice and serve as a practice partner at the center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

"I have explained to my teammates and they understand my decision. I will still help them with the training until my departure."

[modious]

What??!!
How can this be.......

[sam]

sad for the badminton community, but i admire his priorities. more power to him in whatever he pursues in the computer science field.

[Adel]

OMIGOD..... HOW CAN THIS BE?????

What a terrible piece of news.

[Pebulutangkis]

WHAT A WASTE OF TALENT........
so halim will go down the drain for sure,
then INA only have candra/sigit,
esp halim need tony to help him play well or he will play very badly

[Pebulutangkis]

oh ya n candra/sigit also will go down becoz they dun have tony/halim to spar with anymore.

[Yogi]

I think it is a very wise decision. An Mba will def pay him more than any Badminton tournament! He has realised his childhood dream. Now he is agrown man and has to carry on with his life as he has other things to take care of.

I appreciate his decision adn boldness to take that decision!

U will be a success in any field if u can take such daring decisions!

[nauknip]

OH MY GOODNESS.... this is totally SHOCKING.

which means we won't even get to see him play for a 'last time'?!
oh man, good luck to Ina for TC....

the anti-ina ppl must be rejoicing now. oh da*n. (sorry)

[nauknip]

oh well, best wishes to you Tony.

[mane]

MBA? You mean he already has a basic degree in comp sci?

Anyway, yah..it was a very hard decision to make. Since he is at the top and to leave right now. He never mentioned exactly when (as in end of year etc) he would leave, but does that mean he won't be participating in any more (last) tournament? Suporters would definitely miss him a lot.

[81er]

What's his highest qualifications? in what field?

[Pebulutangkis]

probably secondary or pre-U level. most INA players stop sch once their in national junior squad, probably at 16-17 yrs old.

li yongbo must be jumping with joy!! damn!! but zhang/zhang will still lose to candra/sigit. must expose rony more to mature by TC then INA will have hendrawan, taufik, marleve, rony.

PROBABLE LINE-UP
1st single: taufik
1st double: candra/sigit
2nd single: hendrawan
2nd double: halim/bambang/tri kus
3rd single: marleve or rony

this way INA still has a good chance to retain the thomas cup.

[nauknip]

frankly speaking, ina having 'a good chance' is now too optimistic a way of looking at it. they've lost the only advantage they hold over the other ctys.

and if they're using the 7-pt system, hendrawan wouldn't play. Actually it wouldn't make a diff whether he plays or not, cos even if he does, he wouldn't do well.

moreover, if guangzhou wins the bid, you can expect the zhangs to create the same upset tt liu/chen did to candra/sigit.

isn't PBSI gonna do anything abt it? like persuading him to stay or sth???? ={

[Byro-Nenium]

I have been a doubles player for only a short time but i have admired Tony since i 1st re-joined my badminton team and saw Candra/Tony take the gold in Sydney. I even had the honour to meet him in person at the Singapore Open. he has been my favourite badminton player even before the Candra/Tony combo was formed........ i feel very disapointed to see him go, but i respect his decision as he should know whats best for him.

Good luck Tony in whatever you do!!!

Byro-Nenium
Tony Gunawan's no.1 fan!!

[Budi]

I really hope he's going to continue his study in Singapore !!!
Imagine if he join our session...

[Guki]

What a great loss to the badminton field! Very sad news but a wise decision. He might continue to play if he were still with Candra as they were such a perfect match. Being a great talent in badminton and considered by many as the best doubles player, what is the point of staying if he is always ranked second place to S/C.

Tony, wherever and whatever you will be, best wishes for you.

[May]

I dunno why some of u sound so sad.