Here is the last part of the interview. I have tried to translate the whole interview according what the coaches said exactly how he said it sentence by sentence or at least to make the nuance as close as the original, but I notice that it made many parts sound weird lol. But it should be better than google translation... or I hope so. Don't blame me for that, blame the speakers.
Special Interview with Imam Tohari, Kento Momota's talent's "discoverer" (2-end)
Source :
https://www.jawapos.com/sports/22/0...enemu-bakat-kento-momota-imam-tohari-2-habis/
- You returned from Japan in 2013. Do you still keeping up with Momota and co's development?
A: After returning from JApan in 2013, I was still coaching in PP PBSI. So we still had time to catch up in tournaments or events. At that time, Momota was just begininng to enter the Superseries events. To say it bluntly, he had not yet able to win.
Momota asked to me "Why can't I win?". And I said to him "You were just born yesterday and you want to win already? At least, you need one, two years and then in the third year you should be able to finally get to this level. You can't just win it straight fresh from Junior level, even though you are a WJC. That's not possible! In the first year, you will be made "sick" first.
You might make it in the second year. But in the third year, you must have already made some achievements. So he finally won Superseries title in 2015. (Singapore Open, Indonesia Open and WSSF champion. Momota became WJC in 2012)
- That means, there were times when Momota felt frustrated in the transition from being WJC to the senior level?
A: Yes, and that was only in one year too.
- In other words, that showed how Momota was a very ambitious person?
A: Yes, that's very correct. When you just go up to senior level you will be crushed and be in pain. But in the third year, you will have to have achivements. And that was what happened in fact. In that third year, not only he started to win Superseries titles, he had also constantly reached Semifinals. He was even a semifinalist in WC 2015. And he had once been the decider of Japan winning Thomas Cup in 2014. That was only his second year.
- Even though you had become PP PBSI coach, did Momota still ask you for advises?
A: Yeah, because I am like a parent to him I guess. Like a big brother, like a parent.
- Let's return to the past. When you first met him in his middle school, he appeared very special?
A: Actually at that time it was not only Momota. The special thing from Japanese people is the character. Their fighting spirit and how they do not want to lose. And those characters take affect on Momota. Because skill wise, Momota is above the average of Japanese players. Backed up with quilified character, which is very good for a badminton player.
- Back then, there were 16 kids who came for the first time under your regime. One of them was Momota. It was obvious that he was the most special one?
A : Yes. No one else came close.
- Since he was little, Momota had shown this wayward characteristic?
A: He had. But it was a natural and reasonable one. Not something that went too far. Nothing like that at all.
- How did you shape him up to become a world class player?
A: So it was like this. Japan's badminton at the time I was there, was not like what it is now. Because the achievements level in Japan wasn't like in Indonesia. In Indonesia, back then, being a world level was a compulsory. Back then, I had a chance to take Momota to Taufik Hidayat's place. I meant to fill his head up (inspire) him. Because in Japan itself there was no example for him to become a world class player. There was no role model.
Well, I took him to Taufik's place and I showed him, there you go here is an Olympic champion and a World Champion. Momota was in year 9. That was the first time. Then I brought him along again when he was first year high school. So, it was twice. That was with the fund from Japan's association.
Because if you are in school you do not have any fund. I mean, I asked the NBA to fund Momota's travel. For the flight ticket, training fee, etc. First I was asked, could he make any improvement if he trained there. So I answered them, how could you expect anything much if it was only a two weeks period of training in Taufik Hidayat's place. At that time, there wasn't GPR Taufik Hidayat Arena yet. But the place was in Ciracas. The point is, I wanted to show it to him. Look, here is an Olympics Champion and a World Champion.
- What was the result after that?
A: And only after that, Momota's mind started to open up. He knew what to do in order to become a top player, to become a World Champion and an Olympics Champion. And eventually, he became the first Japan's World Junior Champion. Also in Senior level. Therefore, the one who made history of Japan Bamdinton was actually Momota.
- What was Momota's impression when he trained in Taufik Hidayat's place?
A: Yeah it opened up (his mindset). I offered him again, do you want to come to Taufik Hidayat again? He immediately said yes. He used to say no. Because he was still very young so he felt intimidated. Well, you know children.
- Can we apply Japanese culture to our players? Can we make an example of it?
A: Japan's culture is very deep in roots. Let's say, discipline. That's what they are in daily life. So it was like as it was implanted in them. Just like how little kids who go to school themselves without any parent's company. That was from kindergarten. If it was close, they ride the bicycles. If it was far, they would take the public bus or school bus.
They can go on their won. So since they were very little their culture they have been shaped that way. That is what is so extraordinary (of the culture).
- Then what was the badminton coaching system like in Japan now?
A: They have it in school, primary, middle school and high school. The base is from school. Graduating from high school then they will go to agency (institute) like Unisys or NTT. If they don't want to go to agencies, for say they want to go to University first, then they will study.
But for badminton athletes, university studies is usually a waste of 4 years time. So Momota went straight to NTT after graduating high school. In Japan, there are only several clubs who are really focus and proper. In Indonesia there are Djarum, Jaya Raya for instances. Well, that's what the school there for. Only a few schools in Japan that are focused (in badminton).
- When you arrived in Japan in 2002, the badminton's culture wasn't the same as it is now. So how did you start it?
A: Oh, tough bro. Never mind world champion. Even winning in international level was like a dream come true. And it was only 2002. Because there had been no achievement just yet. Then after Athene Olympics 2004, Japan Badminton official had the idea to promote badminton through the media.
So they picked some good looking players. At that time there were Reiko Shiota, Shintaro Ikeda, and Kumiko Ogura. There you go, these are 3 players who had the look and not bad achivements. They were promoted on TV. Intentionally so. Because they wanted badminton to advance in Japan. Moreover, after the Olympics 2020 confirmed to be held in Tokyo (in 2013,red)
.... to next post.