Rudy Hartono

Rudy Hartono
Personal information
Birth name Rudy Hartono Kurniawan
Chinese: 梁海量 Nio Hap Liang [1]
Country  Indonesia
Born (1949-08-18) August 18, 1949
Surabaya, East Java[1]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Handedness Right
Men's singles

Rudy Hartono Kurniawan (Chinese: 梁海量; pinyin: Liang Hailiang), born August 18, 1949) is a former Indonesian badminton star who won the men's singles title at the prestigious All-England Championship eight times, seven times consecutively (1968–1974) in the 1960s and 1970s, and at World Championship in 1980 on his only attempt at this title. He is one of the most famous players in the history of the sport and is considered to be one of the greatest badminton players of all time. His sister is also a former world-level badminton player, Utami Dewi Kinard.

Badminton career

During his prime years Hartono won men's singles in most of the international tournaments that he entered. He also played on six consecutive Indonesian Thomas Cup (men's international) teams between 1967 and 1982, the first of these when he was only seventeen, helping Indonesia to win four consecutive world team championships (1970, 1973, 1976, 1979) in what was then a triennial event. His game was characterized by great power, accuracy, agility, mobility, aggressiveness, and coolness under pressure. In 1997 he was among the first group of players inducted into the World Badminton Hall of Fame.

1972 Summer Olympics

Hartono competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where badminton was one of two demonstration sports. It was the first time that the sport was part of the Olympic program, and it would become an official Olympic sport 20 years later at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

He won the men's singles event, after beating Jamie Paulson of Canada in the first round, Sture Johnsson of Sweden in the semifinals, and Svend Pri of Denmark in the final 15–6, 15–1.

Medals achieved

Rank Event Date Venue
World Championships
1 Singles 1980 Jakarta, INA
Thomas Cup
1 Team 1970 Kuala Lumpur, MAS
1973 Jakarta, INA
1976 Bangkok, THA
1979 Jakarta, INA
2 1967 Jakarta, INA
1982 London, ENG

Career statistics

BWF tournaments finals

Singles

Wins
Date Tournament Opponent in final Score
1980 World Championships Indonesia Liem Swie King 15–9, 15–9

International tournaments finals (partial list)

Singles

Wins
Date Tournament Opponent in final Score
1968 All England Open Malaysia Tan Aik Huang[1]
1969 All England Open Indonesia Darmadi
1969 U.S. Open Indonesia Muljadi
1969 Canadian Open
1970 All England Open Denmark Svend Pri
1971 Denmark Open Japan Ippei Kojima
1971 All England Open Indonesia Muljadi
1971 Canadian Open Japan Ippei Kojima
1972 All England Open Denmark Svend Pri
1972 Denmark Open
1973 All England Open Indonesia Christian Hadinata
1974 All England Open Malaysia Punch Gunalan
1974 Denmark Open
1976 All England Open Indonesia Liem Swie King
1981 Japan Open Indonesia Lius Pongoh
Runners-up
Date Tournament Opponent in final Score
1971 U.S. Open Indonesia Muljadi
1975 All England Open Denmark Svend Pri
1978 All England Open Indonesia Liem Swie King

Doubles

Runners-up
Date Tournament Event Partner Opponents in final Score
1971 All England MD Indonesia Indra Gunawan Malaysia Ng Boon Bee
Malaysia Punch Gunalan

Sources

Cited
  1. 1 2 3 "60 Years of Asian Heroes: Rudy Hartono". TIME Magazine. November 13, 2006. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
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