Suryo aims to breaks M’sian hearts with singles gold
SURYO Nugroho of Indonesia was obsessed with badminton legend Taufik Hidayat and wanted to be just like him during his junior days.
He watched compatriot Taufik’s video everyday. He also joined a junior club and became the Under-12 singles champion at the 2005 Surabaya International.
But his dream was crushed when he was involved in a motorcycle accident while heading for a badminton training session.
“My teammate rode the bike and I was the pillion rider. Neither of us had a licence, but then this is common in Indonesia,” said the 22-yearold.
“It was just a short distance to the training centre but we were hit by a car. My friend escaped unhurt but I lost my left arm.
“I gave up badminton. I was depressed. “But after three years, I decided to take part in para badminton.
“I can still be like Taufik. Taufik won a gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. I want to be the first Indonesian to win a gold at 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
“Playing badminton without an arm was hard at first. I couldn’t even pick up the shuttle and hold it to serve.
“Now, I’m playing like a pro,” he laughed. Suryo has now become one of the top shuttlers in the men’s singles SU5 event (impairment in the upper limb) in South-East Asia.
He made heads turn at the 2015 Singapore Para Games when he defeated Malaysian world champion Cheah Liek Hou in the final.
“Liek Hou and I are good friends, but we are rivals on court. I’ve met him eight times over the last seven years, but he’s better. He has won five times,” said Suryo, who made his international debut at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China.
“He has home advantage but I’m determined to defend the gold.”
Suryo also plays in the men’s doubles with Oddie Kurnia Dwi Listiant Putra.
Yesterday, Suryo beat Jeffrey Rosales Suarez of the Philippines 21-6, 21-13 to emerge as Group B champion to confirm his place in today’s semi-finals.