Aiming for the Top

The Jakarta Post   |  Thu, 01/24/2008 2:01 PM  |  Profile

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 43^rd 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.

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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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