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Aiming for the Top
What national
number one bowler Putty Insavilla Armein lacks in height –
she is only 1.54 meters tall – she makes up for in unrelenting
determination. She returned from a difficult, mostly winless patch
of the last few years to sweep gold at the Southeast Asian Games in
the Philippines in 2005. The 25-year-old daughter of a former
state-owned aviation company executive also sprung a surprise with a
silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.
PARENTAL SUPPORT:
It was not easy to convince my parents when I told them that I would
give up my studies at the School of Mass Communications at the
University of Indonesia for bowling. What parents here would be
happy to see their children become athletes? Athletes don’t have a
future here.
I made up my mind
after competing at the 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. I had taken a
study break to join the training camp for the Games and then I
realized that my bowling career and my studies did not go well
together. I had to make a choice, and I picked bowling. Although
they were the ones who introduced me to the sport, it was still
difficult for my parents to accept my decision.
There was no
long-term national training camp for multi sports event at that
time, so it was quite difficult for me to prove to my parents that I
was serious about bowling. I practiced every day, even on weekends.
Now, my silver from
the 2006 Asian Games is like the payback for them.
CELEBRITY STATUS:
I’m nobody. Even when I stroll through malls, nobody comes up to me
to ask for my autograph. I believe in the old saying: “Seperti
ilmu padi, makin merunduk makin berisi” (the one who knows more
will keep a lower profile). What I have achieved is nothing compared
to other sportspeople. I thank God I won the Asiad silver but I want
more. I think by the time I achieve more success, more people will
recognize me.
WORST MOMENT:
It was before the 2001 SEA Games. I considered myself the most
diligent bowler but I was not named directly to the team. I had to
play 100 games at 10 different bowling alleys. I was very down and
cried for days. Thank God I have my brother Haqi Rumandung [a
national bowler who also competed in
Doha]. He kept telling me, “It’s a test for you, don’t
give up”. I managed to pass selection. At the time, I also listened
to Mariah Carey’s Can’t Take That Away From Me, she is my
favorite singer. It was a beautiful song and it reflected what
happened to me at that time. The song taught me not to easily give
up.
DIFFICULTIES:
I want to look good and bowl well at the same time, which is quite
contradictory. Look at my arms: My right arm is bigger than my left,
so my jackets and kebaya (traditional blouses) always
have different size for the sleeves.
Bowling requires
power and I need nutrition for that. But at the same time I want to
look slim because I’m petite. I’m very concerned about my looks and
my weight. It’s really difficult to organize my diet.
PERSONAL OBSESSION:
I want to be the world number one. I want to be the first Indonesian
to win the World Cup. This year is going to be the 43rd
World Cup and Indonesia’s best achievement so far has only been
finishing in the top eight. I hope to have more juniors as support.
Bowling is a fun game for most people, and it is. But I want to
change the image to show bowling can deliver something to the
country. It is also a potential gold mine at a multisports event
with 12 gold medals on offer.
FUTURE PLAN:
I want to be a coach or set up a bowling academy.
SOCIAL LIFE:
Phew… I’m trying to have a social life. I tried to chase what I have
left behind. Now, after practice I immediately leave the bowling
alley and hang out with friends at malls, watching movies or reading
books. In the off-season, when there are no tournaments, I stay at
home, sleeping. Or I go to the beauty center to have a facial, body
scrub and do those girly things. I try to do what other
“normal” girls do.
ROMANCE:
I’m seeing somebody…. No name.
* * *
Although dubbed Mr.
Perfect for his ability to rack up flawless sets, Ryan Leonard
Lalisang took a difficult and frustrating road to reach
international success. Support from his parents and close friends
helped the 26-year-old
Atmajaya
University
dropout bounce back to collect major titles, including gold at the
2006 Asiad.
PARENTAL SUPPORT:
My parents (retired foreign mining company employee, Robert Jacob
Lalisang, and Vonny Kalesaran) have been very supportive of me. They
introduced me to sports when I was a child. I tried some, like
tennis and swimming, but my best results were winning regional
tournaments. Then, I took up bowling. At the age of 12 or 13, I
decided that I want to be a bowler and I told my parents. They only
told me that I have to be responsible for my choice. Don’t do it
half way. They just asked me to be serious, and told me “You do your
best”.
My parents have
spent a lot to support my bowling career but they never asked for
something in return. It’s the same with my sponsors, especially
Christina Koo, the owner of Jaya Ancol bowling alley. She sent me to
compete in most international tournaments without demanding any
particular achievement from me. Other sponsors keep giving new
products to me to support my career.
CELEBRITY STATUS:
I don’t think I’m a celebrity, at least I didn’t feel it. I can
still easily go here and there and people just don’t recognize me.
It’s different with Taufik [Hidayat, Olympic and Asian Games
champion]. He had to hide in the corner when playing pool with me
and Umar Syarief [SEA Games karate winner]. He’s a celebrity and
always in the spotlight. He has everything. Me? I have nothing.
WORST MOMENT:
The year 1997 was probably the worst time for me. I competed in many
tournaments but never won. In international events, my best
achievement was the top three. It went on for more than a year. I
was desperate and didn’t know what to do. But I never thought of
quitting bowling. But then I discussed it with my colleagues, my
coach and many people and gained my confidence back. When I won the
Asian Championships, I believed in myself and I have kept on winning
until now.
DIFFICULTIES:
It’s difficult to change my perception of being the one “hunting
instead of being hunted”. Coach Sid Allen from
Canada told me that once I was leading, I should not relax.
I must keep my leading position. The problem is I hate leading in a
tournament. I prefer to chase after the leader on the second day of
the competition. It’s not good but it’s difficult to change.
PERSONAL OBSESSION:
I want to be the world champion in three or four years.
I also dream of
seeing bowling being included in the Olympic Games. I don’t
understand why the IOC doesn’t see bowling as a sport with
potential. It offers a lot of gold medals and many countries have
good bowlers.
FUTURE PLAN:
Plan A. I want to go to the United States to study and play as a pro
there. I plan to quit playing as an amateur at the age of 30.
Plan B: Open a
24-hour Indian restaurant. But with the floods that hit Jakarta, I
will have to think about the site of my business. And I plan to be a
distributor for bowling equipment here. But, I have no plans to
become a bowling coach. No way; I am an impatient guy.
SOCIAL LIFE:
I sacrificed my social life years ago. I still have contact with my
friends but I am never able to keep my promises to hang out with
them. Anyway, with or without a social life, it’s all the same to
me.
ROMANCE:
I used to have a non-athlete girlfriend but it turned out that we
couldn’t get along. She demanded a “normal” life from me – picking
her up, going on dates every weekend – which I couldn’t do. I have a
very tight schedule with practice sessions, tournaments, including
going overseas. So, we broke up.
Now I’m seeing
Putty … it’s been about three years now. It’s nice to have someone
who you can meet every day. Marriage? Hm… not before I become world
champion.
+ Primastuti Handayani and Damar Harsanto
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