Bakti Rudy Hartono, The All England Champion Eight Times, For Indonesian Badminton

Indonesian badminton maestro, Rudy Hartono, the eight-time All England champion. (BWF)

JAKARTA - Rudy Hartono Kurniawan is the Indonesian badminton maestro. He is the only athlete who has been able to hold the All England championship record eight times. The existence was recorded from 1968 to 1976.

Maybe Rudy chose to retire in 1982. However, his dedication to the development of national badminton did not necessarily disappear. He continues to move to spur young badminton players to shine on the world stage through a platform. The Badminton Association (PB) Jaya Raya, his name.

The role of parents in directing children's skills in the world of sports is so great. Rudy Hartono once felt it. The man who was born in Surabaya on August 18, 1949 felt the strong pressure to practice badminton with his father, Zulkarnaen Kurniawan.

Instead of little Rudy being able to relax enjoying his spare time, he is actually required to be disciplined in training. Every day Rudy is charged with physical training: running. All of this is done to form physical strength and resilience.

He was taught not to be spoiled and practice badminton anywhere. Even his father began to teach Rudy about playing fast and aggressive badminton. Ulam's beloved pinnacle arrives. Rudy's skills in playing badminton are increasing. His father began to include Rudy, who is only 14 years old, to PB Rajawali.

A platform that makes Rudy feel professional badminton exercises. The result was brilliant. Rudy was able to bring out his best potential. Mentally the winner appeared. He was able to dominate many junior-level badminton competitions.

This work made the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) attracted. Rudy also officially entered the national training in 1965. Rudy followed the international championship and succeeded in becoming the winner. His most memorable victory was when Rudy was able to dominate All England.

Total Rudy can become the eight-time All England champion. Seven of them were obtained by Rudy in a row, from 1968-1974. The rest Rudy returned to enjoying victory in All England in 1976. This success made Rudy the only person who was able to win the All England eight times.

An achievement that made Rudy known as an Indonesian sports hero. Then, Rudy began to be admired and inspired by many other Indonesian badminton players such as Liem Swei King.

"After my heart was unanimous. I joined the Jakarta National Training Center. I was lucky in the national training, I often met Rudy Hartono and other world champions. My idol figure Rudy. I aspire to become a champion like Rudy. I aspire one day, I must also be the champion of All England and win in various international tournaments," explained Lim Swie King in the book Call Me King (2009).

A series of achievements that Rudy got did not make him a jumawa. Rudy is also not only actively struggling from the field, but also participating in advancing Indonesian badminton. He even wants to devote himself as a coach as well as mentor of young Indonesian badminton players.

The struggle was increasingly complete when Rudy was willing to help the DKI Jakarta government to produce talented young talents. He accepted the offer of the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin and high-ranking PT. Jaya Development (BUMD Jakarta), Ciputra to become chairman of PB Jaya Raya in 1978.

Rudy's contribution to PB Jaya Raya is so large. He remains active even though he has retired as a badminton player in 1982. He acted as a coach as well as a leader. Rudy also gave up his house as a secretariat office.

Rudy's efforts to build PB Jaya Raya are like adopting his father's pattern of students who are able to take advantage of everything in training. This mentality makes Rudy not care about the limited facilities and funds belonging to PB Jaya Raya.

He is able to contribute optimally, even without the splendor of training facilities. Fields may be leased, but matters of increasing the achievements of young badminton players must be maximized. The results were brilliant. A few years later, the talented young talent in the style of PB Jaya Raya was transformed into a 'giant' in the world of badminton.

Some of them were even able to become champions in various international badminton events. Even badminton athletes from PB Jaya Raya such as Susi Susanti and the men's doubles pair Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan won Olympic gold.

Susi Susanti won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. While Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

He (Rudy) is really a superstar. So, his willingness to help us is truly a gift. I greet Rudy Hartono, say thank you. Rudy's presence will not only teach world-class engineering lessons, but also channel the spirit of champion. Apparently, recently I know, he is also a good motivator. He is very excited to liven up the fighting passion of the club's children.

In October 1976 PB Jaya Raya was founded with Rudy as chairman and chairman of the engineering field. Retno Kustiyah joined as secretary and treasurer. Atik Jauhari and Ridwan became coaches. The secretariat office temporarily used Rudy's house on Radio Dalam. Again I have to thank Rudy for giving up the space in his house as a secretariat, "explained Ciputra as written by Alberthiene Endah in the book Ciputra: The Entrepreneur (2019).