Easy foe: Christian Adinata will meet Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: He was named after the legendary doubles player Christian Hadinata but is making a name for himself as Indonesia’s up-and-coming men’s singles shuttler.
Newly-crowned SEA Games champion Christian Adinata’s father Dedy Gunawan was an ardent fan of the famous Hadinata, who was a multiple world champion and a legendary men’s doubles coach.
“My father’s idol was the great Hadinata. So, he decided to name me after him. I also played the doubles when I was a junior but I probably had a future in the singles,” said the 21-year-old Adinata.
“Maybe my father wanted me to become a successful doubles player like him but he wouldn’t mind as long as I become a successful shuttler.
“I have met Hadinata as a kid and have snapped a picture with him.
“The SEA Games gold is my biggest success so far and this will spur me to do better and I want to make my father proud.”
Born in Pati Regency in Central Jawa, Christian was initially trained by Dedy, who had his own club Walat Badminton Club before breaking through into the national team.
It’s worth noting that Hadinata had initially started as a singles player before switching to doubles but the young Adinata is not likely to do so as his singles career is just picking up.
Fresh from winning the SEA Games gold, Adinata continued his run and reached the main draw of the Malaysian Masters after beating local player Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin 16-21, 21-15, 22-20.
Adinata will meet Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand and has a realistic chance of making it to the last 16.
“My initial target is to survive the qualifying round and I have achieved that. I will do the best as I can here and also in the coming tournaments,” added Adinata.
