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former coach says badminton for Indonesia is perhaps like soccer for Brazil. In pursuit of glory — and money, ultimately — Brazilians swarm around the world to play soccer — just like Indonesians for badminton.

The difference is that Brazilians are almost always willing to defend their national honor and fight for their country. For some Indonesians, playing abroad means a switch in allegiance.

Not that it’s bad. In truth, they never really leave behind their identity as Indonesians even when playing for other countries.

Ask Tony Gunawan, winner of a 2000 Olympic Games men’s doubles gold medal with Candra Wijaya for Indonesia, who is now playing for the US and coaching for that country.

“Wherever I play, people will not forget that what made me what I am is Indonesia. Needless to say, I am still an Indonesian,” Tony told The Jakarta Post at the Djarum Indonesia Open Super Series last week.

Tony decided to move to the US with his fiancée Eti Tantra in 2002 and was married in the same year. He joined the Orange County Badminton Club in Anaheim, California, where he still trains and coaches. He also studied computer engineering at the DeVry Institute and Westwood College.

Tony, who won the US men’s double gold medal with Howard Bach at the 2005 World Championship, said he has not decided if he will become a US citizen. “There is too much to leave behind,” he said.

At the Singapore Open two weeks ago, the pair, now world rank number nine, was defeated in the final by Chieh Min Fang/Sheng Mu Lee of Taiwan. The American duo reached the Indonesia Open’s quarterfinals the week afterwards, but again lost to Chieh Min Fang/Sheng Mu Lee.

The story is much the same for Ho Halim Haryanto, who was born in Bandung and who now plays for the US. Haryanto, who also once partnered with Tony and won the IBF World Championship in 2001 as well as the 2001 All England for men’s doubles, is also a coach at the Orange County Badminton Club.

Switching allegiances is nothing new. Mia Audina, who won the silver medal for Indonesia at the 1996 Olympics and twice helped Indonesia to win the Uber Cup, moved to the Netherlands with her Dutch husband. Mia also won a silver medal for the Dutch at 2004 Olympics.

Ronald Susilo was born in Kediri in East Java but in the 2004 Olympics fought competed for Singapore.

During last week’s Indonesia Open, at least 10 Indonesian-born players competed under the flag of other countries, including Weny Rasidi and Vidre Wibowo (France), Wisnu Haryo Putro (Italy), Bagus Indra (Spain) and Chandra Kowi (US).

Of all the countries welcoming Indonesian players, Singapore is the country that opens its door wider than others. Chrisnanta Danny Bawa, Hendra Wijaya, Hendri Kurniawan Saputra, Sari Shinta Mulia are among the names representing Singapore at the Indonesia Open. Kurniawan Saputra with his younger brother Hendra Wijaya and sister Sinta Mulya Sari have chosen to become Singaporean citizens.

According to current Badminton World Federation (BWF) rules, players can represent any country if they have lived in that country for at least three month.

“They do not breach any contract with the members of the association in their native counties or the previous countries in which they were staying,” said Venugopal Mahalingam, BWF event manager.

Moving abroad is about opportunities of playing more.

During the Indonesia Open, Indonesia featured up to 130 players from the youth camp. An envious number, but it also shows the tight competition they have to face to excel if they stay in Indonesia.

Ask Vidre Wibowo, who was in the national training camp from 1999 to 2001 but moved to a club in Paris in 2005. “Chances to play at a tournament here [in France] ar bigger than in my home country.”

Weny Rasidi was born in Surabaya and still holds an Indonesian passport, but wears the colors of France. Weny moved to France in 2001 and is now pursuing her study in sports science at the Institut National du Sport et de l’Education Physique (INSEP) in Paris. Playing for French was her way of paying back her adopted country for the opportunities it gave her.

Pairing with Laura Choinet, Weny reached the second round at the Indonesia Open, when they were defeated by Jung Eun Ha/Kyung Eun Jung of South Korea.

“Why not take the opportunity [to become a French citizens] if my performance is good enough for the Olympics,” Weny told the Post. “I don’t mind changing my citizenship and it will be good for my children.”