A Letter to Jonatan Christie

Dear Jonatan,

I am a huge fan of badminton since 22 years ago. I watched we won Thomas and Uber Cup 1994 & 1996. That's the moment when I hooked by badminton. I collected most of the article in newspaper since then. When we lost in Uber Cup 1998, my heart was broken. I still can picture Susi Susanti couldn't reach the shuttle near the net and the title of the article said, "I am sorry we can bring the cup back to Indonesia." Therefore I still had hope with Thomas Cup team, so I stayed until we lost at 2002. So much pain to watched our team lost made me stop to follow, not because I didn't care but because I cared so much I couldn't watch more loses. It's painful.

But I have so many regrets now because I missed greatest things happened: 

I missed Taufik Hidayat & Markis Kido/ Hendra Setiawan won Olympic Gold Medalist.

I missed Liliyana Natsir won her first World Championship title when she was just 19 years old & another title after that with Nova Widianto. 

Liliyana Natsir is the reason why I decided to 'comeback' to badminton. Since 2011, I watched Liliyana won her 3 consecutive All England titles with Tontowi Ahmad, her other partner. I watched Hendra Setiawan finally won All England title in 2014 & 2x World Championship title with his new partner M. Ahsan after people second-guessed him at the beginning. 

Not just following news from far, I started to watched Indonesia Open PSS live at Istora since 2012 until 2015 with my best friends who also a huge fans of badminton. I also started to play badminton 7 years ago until now & I really enjoy it.

When I see you, I see hope. I see a youngster who prepare everything well, work hard and about to embark to the highest podium. Along with your compatriots, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and Ihsan Maulana Mustofa, I can see a brighter future for Indonesia Men's Singles.  I can see Thomas & Sudirman Cup is about to come home. Take care, support & remind each other to the greatest podium. 

Jonatan Christie, Ihsan Maulana Mustofa & Anthony Ginting

You are the reason why I want to stick around because I don't want to miss another great things that will happen in the future. I will watch you win or lose, the proud and the pain. 

Keep focus on your goals, practice even harder, have stronger faith because you are in the right track. It's not about a whole county's hope. It's about you who work so hard since the beginning, how your parents guide and sacrifice for your success to come. God has a plan and I think the plan is you.

I believe you will have a bright future. It's just about when you are going to execute it because you are ready. The future is here. 

Good luck, Jo. Rise & shine!

Cheers to the greatest,

arinariane

a badminton addict