that was really a huge mass wish INA will back into its glory day soon source : http://badmintonindonesia.org/app/funstuff/photofolder.aspx?/584
Badminton Champions Paraded In City To Boost Spirit Jakarta (Antara News) - Liliyana Natsir and Tontowi Ahmad as well as Muhammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan who recently won champion titles in the World Badminton Championship in China were paraded in the city on Sunday. A lot of fans joined the parade along with Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Roy Suryo and the chief of the Indonesian Badminton Association, Gita Wirjawan. "This is meant for triggering other athletes to also become world champions like Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir and Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan," the minister said after the parade that took place from Sarinah to Hotel Indonesia roundabout during a Sunday car-free day on the capital city`s Thamrin main thoroughfare. Tontowi/Liliyana recently won the world champion title from the mixed double event while Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan from the men`s double. Indonesia has long waited for the titles after it has long got none. PBSI spokesperson Yuni Kartika said the activity was also held in appreciation of the athletes` fight for the titles. "We need to highlight it so that they know that people are longing for titles and wish Indonesian badminton could flourish like during the period of Susi and Alan Budikusuma (Olympic medalists). The people`s response is extraordinary and beyond our expectation," she said. PBSI chief Gita Wirjawan said he was moved by the response of the people. Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir won the world champion title after beating their Chinese opponents Xu Ceh/Ma Jin while Ahsan/Hendra won it after defeating Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen from Denmark source : http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/90303/badminton-champions-paraded-in-city-to-boost-spirit
Belaetrix has such a beautiful smile. And what a crowd!! You couldn't get a turnout like that in Canada even if our badminton team won the WC, cured cancer and outlawed winter. ;-)
it's amazing for me to see a country with people so into badminton, which will almost never happen in america.
if ever an American wins a badminton world championship medal, it probably means badminton in america is closer in popularity to the NBA/NFL/MLB............. i bet there will be parades for the medal winners
well ... TG/HB from the USA won MD gold medals in 2005 world badminton championship please check this link = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_IBF_World_Championships hehehe