ctjcad
Regular Member
X Ball said:
X Ball,rudytjip said:He didn't marry an American woman; his wife Etti was also a national badminton player in Indonesia (though not as accomplished as Tony). She probably was the determining factor on the move to the US. She already had a brother in the US. She works now in the financial investment industry (for Merril Lynch, I think).
Other possible reasons:
1) Tony had a conflict with PBSI honchos. When I talked to Sonny Dwi Kuncoro during the WC in Anaheim, he was sure that this was the biggest reason.
2) Tony's official reason was to study computers and to "improve and expand" badminton in the USA.
3) There is also the "Indonesian of Chinese descent" problem. Many ethnic Chinese in Indonesia are still haunted by the riots in 97-98 during which many houses/businesses owned by Chinese-Indonesians were looted and burned, and many girls were raped. This is partly why you now see so many Indonesian badminton players of Chinese descent playing for Hongkong, Singapore, Taipei, Holland, etc.
4) Except for Taufik, I don't think Indonesian badminton players are well-rewarded there. Plus, PBSI is notorious for heavy-handed treatment of their players. Being in national training center is probably more like being in the army. You have no freedom to guide your own future.
5) As far as Rudy Hartono being a rich man... the fact that he married the daughter of very rich businessman (Indomilk owner, I think) surely helped! This is the route that Taufik had taken. Marry the daughter of a rich, powerful official (Agum Gumelar) and you're set!
Anyway, these are my 2-cents worth on why Tony migrated to the US
sorry, didn't have a chance to reply to this one sooner...but noticed a couple others have replied, which i'm glad also...
Anyways, what sabathiel and rudytjip posted are true & the most common/most known reasons.
Esp. about Tony's "reason" to move to U.S. is the most common/heard reason of him moving to the U.S. Although what taufik-ist wrote also has been heard before. Actually there are other posts in this forum which mentioned abt this issue, hmm, i have to find them and give you the links.
Now regarding your inquiry which i've put in bold, he did the latter didn't he??..Why Tony didn't want to stay in Indo and use his "stature" like Rudy Hartono and coach etc2, well, his and Rudy's case are different. To add to what rudytjip mentioned(reason #4 & #5), if Tony would have stayed and used his stature to become coach, i don't think he will be as well respected and well-paid. Just take a look at their current coaches who used to play for the national team (ie. Christian Hadinata, Joko Supriyanto and others), see how they are being treated. Or even take a look at Rexy Mainaky, eventhough he was a hero in his days, but he decided to coach overseas. So, in a way, becoming a coach as a career there at PBSI is not "worth it". I'm sure you know this also, unless one has the "power" or a lot of "connection" with the "well-known" people in Indonesia, you can forget abt becoming a well-know or respected individual..
Thus that's why he decided to do the latter and move/"follow" his wife to the U.S. whilst he had a chance..
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