Sony ready to mend performance for wife in BWF World Championship

Newlywed national singles shuttler Sony Dwi Kuncoro heads to Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships in Hyderabad, India with a fixed determination to dedicate a win to his new family.

“If I perform badly, how will I feed my wife? Badminton is my profession. I will play better this time. It is my responsibility as a husband,” Sony, who tied the knot with Gading Safitri on July 24 in Surabaya, East Java, said on the sidelines of the contingent’s departure ceremony on Friday at Cipayung national training center in East Jakarta.

The red-and-white contingent departed to India on Friday with a total of 16 athletes and eight officials.

“I will dedicate a better achievement to my family,” said the 25-year-old shuttler, whose participation in the championship on Aug. 10-16 was nearly cancelled by Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) due to a three-week off from the Cipayung national training center to prepare his wedding.

Despite not having intensive physical training during the leave, Sony said he still balanced some physical and technical training at badminton club Suryanaga in his hometown Surabaya.

Sony, who was the runner-up of the 2007 World Championship in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , where he lost to China’s Lin Dan in the final, said this year’s drawing looked similar to two years ago. 

“Let me play round by round until the final,” said Sony, who failed to defend his last year’s champion title at the recent Indonesia Open Super Series after losing to veteran compatriot Taufik Hidayat in the semifinal. Sixth seed Sony will face Michael Lahnsteiner from Austria in the first round.