M

any perhaps grew up learning in school about Sudirman being that famous general who was the military commander of the Indonesian forces during the fight for independence in the 1940s.

But there's another Sudirman who, in another kind of battle, led Indonesia's rise as a badminton powerhouse in the 1970s.

While the former Sudirman is now commemorated in the name of many streets across the country, the latter is emblazoned on a flashing trophy battled for by countries biennially. He was Dick Sudirman, the inspiration for the Sudirman Cup.

Sudirman never saw his country win the first ever Sudirman Cup in Indonesia in 1989, three years after he passed away.

Born in North Sumatra on April 29, 1922, Sudirman was first known as a pharmaceutical entrepreneur. But his involvement and dedication made him a more well-known personality in badminton, particularly after he founded and twice served as chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), from 1952-1963 and 1968-1981.

Under his leadership, Indonesia won its first ever Thomas Cup in 1958. In 1975, Indonesia grabbed both the Thomas and Uber Cup.

Rudy Hartono, eight-time All England champion, said Sudirman's contributions to the sport were well-recognized.

"It's an honor *to have the event named after Sudirman*. But now having pride isn't enough - we must win the trophy back," he said.

"*Sudirman* was a very pragmatic leader. He was open, dedicated, very familiar with the sport."

Liem Swie King, two-time All England winner and member of the Thomas Cup winning teams, said Sudirman was quite close to the athletes, despite being very strict.

"He was able to motivate the players, and it was a time when we had many great players. His approach to winning and dedication to the sport made us very successful," he said.

Sudirman was also a member of the International Badminton Federation (IBF) board in 1973, and became vice chairman to Stellan Mohlin two years later.

Along with fellow Indonesian badminton figure Suharso Suhandinata, Sudirman and Mohlin united the IBF and the World Badminton Federation, led by China, in 1980.

In 1986, Sudirman was posthumously awarded the IBF Distinguished Service Award. That same year, PBSI officials worked to immortalize Sudirman's name in a mixed team championship, which they were then drafting.

Their European counterparts were also scrambling to use the name of Herbert Scheele, a former IBF president in the 1970s.

The trophy is an 80-centimeters-high, 22-carat gold-plated, solid silver magnificence. The body is in the form of a shuttlecock, surmounted with a replica of Indonesia's world-famous Borobudur Temple.

Rudy said this year's squad must have a fighting spirit because "only having that will train an athlete into a winner".