As the crowd inside the Istora Senayan stadium screamed out her nickname “Butet!” Liliyana Natsir could barely hide her emotion, taking several deep breaths to calm herself.

The farewell ceremony for the 33-year-old badminton player turned emotional as a big screen in the stadium displayed a testimonial video from Liliyana’s opponents, such as China’s Zheng Siwei and Malaysian Goh Liu Ying, talking about how they saw Liliyana as a player.

The 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist could no longer hold back the tears as the big screen aired another video featuring close friends, including partner Tontowi Ahmad and coach Richard Mainaky. However, Liliyana, as always, still managed to look tough.

Without a doubt, Liliyana is one of the best badminton players that Indonesia has ever produced. She is the world’s best playmaker in mixed doubles, with a playing style that spread fear and respect in equal measure among her opponents.

And after all the accolades she has achieved, Liliyana has finally decided to call it a day on the sport that put her name in the spotlight.

Sunday’s farewell marked the official date of Liliyana’s hanging up her racket for good, in front of a home crowd, playing her last final at the 2019 Daihatsu Indonesia Masters in Jakarta.

“Today is the hardest day for me. I’ve been training in the national center in Cipayung for 17 years. I have had a lot of ups and downs. I’ve cried and laughed during those years. And today, on Sunday Jan. 25, 2019, I officially retire from badminton,” she said in her speech, accompanied by heartfelt applause from her adoring fans.

Liliyana thanked several figures in her speech, with a special mention for her coach Richard, whom she credited with seeing her potential and getting her to play in the mixed doubles.

Closing her farewell speech, Liliyana sent a message to junior players: “Losing is no disgrace. Giving up is.”

Liliyana began to show her potential when she was paired up with senior player Nova Widianto. Liliyana replaced Vita Marissa, who was suffering from an injury at the time, as Nova’s partner.

With Nova, Liliyana enjoyed several prestigious victories, including two World Champion titles in 2005 and 2007 as well as a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

When Nova had passed his peak, Liliyana was prepared to play with a new partner. In early 2010, she was set up to play with Devin Lahardi before eventually pairing up with Tontowi, her partner until the last.

Tontowi and Liliyana played together as a pair in the 2010 Macau Open, and in an instant they made a significant start by winning the title.

Acting as the senior player, Liliyana initially seemed to have trouble adapting to Tontowi. In her previous pairing, Liliyana played the junior role, where she received directions from Nova.

With Tontowi, however, it was her turn.

Liliyana often seemed upset with Tontowi on court, especially when the latter made unforced errors, but those scenes were just part of the game. The two-time Olympic medalist has never been known as a tough senior player.

Despite this uneasy mentoring, Tontowi says he always respected Liliyana, adding that it was simply her character, which he would forever miss.

“I will miss the way Ci [big sister] Butet motivates me. She’s been my motivator. Now, I can play more passionately [because of her]. Being scolded by her is fair enough, I guess,” he said.

Tontowi said he would always remember Liliyana as a great player, who never gave up easily. Tontowi described his outgoing partner as a true fighter with great ambition, who would always fight to the very end.

“[Liliyana] has this fighting spirit that forces her to strive until the last point — I think our juniors don’t have such distinct qualities yet,” he added.

Greysia Polii, a women’s doubles shuttler, concurred with Tontowi, adding that Liliyana had always known the goals in her career.

“She wanted to be a champion and she was consistent in achieving her goal. She has become a legend and icon of Indonesian badminton,” said Greysia, who, like Liliyana, also hails from Manado, South Sulawesi.

Malaysia’s Chan Peng Soon testified that Liliyana was a superb leader on court who could always bring out the best in her partner.

________________________

Liliyana Natsir

Born: Manado, S. Sulawesi, Sept. 9, 1985 (age 33)

Highest ranking: World No. 1 in mixed doubles with Tontowi Ahmad

 

Career highlights (Partner)

Olympic Games: Gold in Rio de Janeiro 2016 (Tontowi Ahmad), silver in Beijing 2008 (Nova Widianto)
 

World Championships: 2017 Glasgow gold medal (Tontowi Ahmad), 2013 Guangzhou gold (Tontowi Ahmad), 2007 Kuala Lumpur gold (Nova Widianto), 2005 Anaheim gold (Nova Widianto)
 

Asian Games: 2018 Jakarta-Palembang bronze (Tontowi Ahmad), 2014 Incheon silver (Tontowi Ahmad)

BWF World Tour (2018-2019): 1 title and 3 runners-up – including 2019 Indonesia Masters runner-up (Tontowi Ahmad)

BWF Superseries (2007-2017): 23 titles, 19 runners-up – including 2012-2014 All England titles (Tontowi Ahmad)

Popular

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Analysis: Indonesia denies normalization with Israel to enter OECD

Citroen to produce electric cars in Indonesia