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Nitya Krishinda Maheswari shed tears. The Indonesian national badminton doubles player could not contain her emotions. The Asian Games 2014 gold medal she had just won with Greysia Polii seemed to hurl her back to bitter memories of years past.
"When I was down, the only one who consoled me was my family," Nitya, 25, told Tempo at the Gyeyang Gymnasium, in Incheon, South Korea, on Sunday last week. Of course she did not overlook her partner on the field, Greysia Polii. In two years of spartan workouts at their training center in Cipayung, Jakarta, they faced harsh criticism for their poor performance.
Amid the jubilation over his daughter's victory at the Wimbledon girls' doubles championships, Olivier Grende faces trouble back home in Indonesia. He has been asked by Sportama, an athlete development and management foundation, to pay off loans amounting to Rp528 million. The deadline: the end of August.
The problem began when Tami Grende, Olivier's daughter, stopped participating in tournaments in 2012 due to his inability to pay for them. In early 2013, Sportama came into the picture, offering Tami a three-year contract that would provide for her to compete in various tournaments. In return, Sportama would have exclusive rights to organize her activities. Tami, whose mother is Balinese, would live in Jakarta and train at the Sportama tennis academy. The foundation would also pay for her education and transportation expenses. Olivier agreed, and Tami was back in business.
Unlike other teenagers in Denpasar, Bali, Tami Grende will not be found at the popular franchise outlets many of them frequent after school. As soon as the last bell rings at 3pm, the 17-year-old girl dashes home to prepare for yet another routine: practicing tennis strokes with her father, Olivier Grende. They go until 7pm.
The tennis court Tami and her father use lies just 200 meters from their house in Suwung, Denpasar. In the same field, Tami usually begins her day under the red morning sun with jogging and agility drills. Then she leaves for school. Tami has been doing this since she was eight.
To Pele, there's only one best player in the universe and that is himself. Even Diego Maradona, in his view, is inferior. But Pele has a totally different opinion of Zico, a fellow player in the Brazilian national team. "Alongside myself, Zico was one of the best player in Brazil," said the legend, at one point. Zico himself, whose full name is Arthur Antunes Coimbra, does not mind being called the 'White Pele.'
Long before there was Neymar Jr, who is predicted to be the star at the upcoming 2014 World Cup championship, Zico, 61, was Brazil's beloved footballer. At the 1982 World Cup, he played with other great players, among them Socrates (who died three years ago), and was acknowledged as the player with the most beautiful moves. At the time, the Selecaoas the Brazilian national team is knownwas regarded as the best team on the face of the earth. Before hanging up his cleats for good, Zico played one more time to defend Brazil's 1986 World Cup title.
Young Aero and Aqsa are Indonesia's first jet skiers to set world records. Nearly two decades of hard work led up to the achievements.
The Indonesian contingent will compete at the SEA Games with barely enough preparation: a tight budget, lack of equipment, and still-unpaid salaries.
Indonesian badminton is loaded with talent when it comes to doubles. But in singles' we still lag behind.
The recent LSI competition was seen as damaging to efforts to end the conflict in Indonesian football. FIFA is giving no more chances.
Almost every foreign soccer player in Indonesia has not received a part of their rightful payment. They have to play in village tournaments just to survive.
The KPSI soccer team went through some funny incidents in Australia. The team in the end failed to compete in the AFF Cup.
Athlete trading and hijacking prior to the national games has become a common occurence. But not all are motivated by money.
Genes, nutrition and a special diet are key to enabling Jamaican athletes to sprint faster than most. The desire to be someone deserving of respect and worldwide recognition also plays a role.
A modest gymnasium was a second home for weightlifters Triyatno and Eko, before they made their way to the 2012 London Olympics. Both are now role models for the youth in their hometowns.
IN the business world, size does matter. But on the running track, the size of an athletes body has nothing to do with their spirit, determination, and achievement. As in the case of Triyaningsih, a petite 146 centimeters tall and weighing in at just 37 kilos.
Serafi Unani and her cousin Franklin Burumi won gold medals in the 100-meter sprints at SEA Games XXVI. The two young sprinters from Papua could potentially surpass the achievements of their seniors.
He has overcome adversity and left his mark on several high mountains. His dream is to climb the world's highest peak, Mount Everest.
He is the youngest professional jet-ski racer with international achievements, seizing 10 world titles during 2010. He has just earned the title of fastest rider.
Holding a position in PSSI is a political investment that also brings material gains.
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