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RI badminton teams find devoted, die-hard fan in 'Pak' Yanto
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Badminton fan Hariyanto holds up a banner that reads “We support! Team Red-and-White. I leave Indonesia for you. No matter what, the Thomas and Uber Cup shall return to Jakarta” as he watches Team Indonesia in the 2018 Thomas and Uber Cup at IMPACT Arena in Bangkok. (JP/Ramadani Saputra)
H
ariyanto is a familiar name to most badminton lovers in the country. He is a die-hard fan of the sport and has dedicated his life to supporting the Red-and-White team in various competitions, including the ongoing 2018 Thomas and Uber Cup in Bangkok.
Pak Yanto, his nickname, is often spotted sitting in the bleachers of various stadiums, sporting an eccentric outfit while cheering – in a unique way – for Indonesian players.
The 54-year-old said he had been watching Indonesian teams compete since the 1980s.
"My first experience coming to the stadium was in the 80s, attending a tournament in Kuala Lumpur,” he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday on the sidelines of the Thomas and Uber Cup at IMPACT Arena.
Hariyanto revealed that he would save money long before attending a tournament.
“For the 2018 cup, I started saving when I found out about the tournament’s venue [about] a year ago," said the father of six.
From all the tournaments he has watched, Hariyanto said the most memorable moment was when he witnessed the Indonesian men’s and women’s teams winning gold medals in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
"I love the sport because it has made this country proud," he said.
