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Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Rudy Hartono

Rudy Hartono Kurniawan is a former badminton player from Indonesia who won the men’s singles title at the prestigious All-England Championship eight times, seven times in a row (1968–1974), and at the World Championship in 1980 on his lone attempt at this title. He is regarded as one of the finest badminton players in the sport’s history and one of the most well-known athletes ever.

1. He was the third of 8 children

Nio Hap Liang, the third of Hartono’s eight siblings, was born on August 18, 1949, in Surabaya. A former member of the Indonesia Uber Cup squad and five-time national champion, Jeanne Utama Dewi, is his sister.

The young Hartono participated in a variety of sports, including volleyball, football, roller skating, and athletics, but his athletic path gradually directed him toward badminton. In 1976, Rudy wed Jane Anwar; the couple has two kids.

2. Hartono joined the National Training Center in 1965

In 1965, Hartono enrolled in the National Training Center in an effort to support his country’s squad in the forthcoming Thomas Cup. He was a member of the 1966–1967 Thomas Cup team, winning all of his games, although Indonesia lost to Malaysia in a contentious championship game in which play was stopped because of the rowdy crowd.

3. When he was 18 became the youngest champion at the All England Championships

The 18-year-old Indonesian defeated Tan Aik Huang of Malaysia, who had won the event two years previously, to become the tournament’s youngest-ever champion at the All England Championships on his maiden attempt a year later.

From that point on, Hartono dominated the competition in a way that few others had done before, capturing eight titles overall from 1968 to 1976. Hartono received recognition in the Guinness Book of Records for his eight victories in the All England.

4. Hartono defeated Svend Pri in the finals of the 1972 Munich Games

In the championship match at the 1972 Munich Games, in which badminton was featured as a showcase sport, Hartono defeated Svend Pri. From 1967 until 1982, Hartono participated in the Thomas Cup competition and represented his nation. With Indonesia winning four straight Thomas Cups, 1970, 1973, 1976, and 1979, Hartono and his team enjoyed tremendous victories.

5. Rudy was part of the Indonesian Badminton Association 

Toi Shan Association College by Mk2010 from

Rudy got involved with the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), serving in a variety of capacities until 2006, including being Chairman of Development Affairs. He presently sits on the Board of Honor for PBSI.

Hartono also participated actively in the Badminton World Federation (BWF). He served on the Council from 1985 to 1986 and again from 1994 to 2009. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) chose Hartono to represent Indonesia as a Goodwill Ambassador due to his standing and reputation.

6. When he was depressed he converted to Christianity 

Hartono started losing matches in the late 1970s and early 1980s as he started to get older. He became depressed as a consequence. His “conversion experience” to Christianity in his mid-30s, according to him, was thanks to a preacher. Hartono was afterwards inspired to share the gospel with others after Svend Pri’s passing in 1983.

In Australia in 1988, Hartono underwent coronary bypass surgery. Hartono has been very involved in his church ministry ever since 1989. In Indonesia’s Jakarta, Hartono was appointed associate pastor of Bethel Church in 2001. 

7. Throughout his career, Hartono won numerous international open championships

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Hartono enjoyed career-long success in the international open circuit in addition to his All England triumph. After defeating Sture Johnsson and his senior Muljadi in the appropriate finals, he won the 1969 Canadian and US Open championships. He also took home the men’s singles and doubles crowns in the Singapore Open that year. He won the singles match against Muljadi, and in the doubles match, he and Indratno defeated Lee Wah Chin and Yeo Ah Seng.

8. At the age of 11, Hartono began official training in badminton under the guidance of his father

With the guidance of his father, Hartono began regular badminton instruction at the age of 11. His father had established a small badminton club in a warehouse at the railroad station, where he would practise for almost the whole day.

At the junior championship in Surabaya in 1964, he participated in his first competition at the age of 12, and he won. Hartono played for the much bigger Rajawali Club after leaving his father’s club, where a lot of talented Indonesian badminton players were developed. He won the junior title at the age of 15 in the nation.

9. He ventured into dairy business

Universitas Trisakti by musnahterinjak from

Following his retirement, Hartono, who studied at Trisakti University’s Economics Faculty in Jakarta, also started to grow his company. He entered the dairy industry in Sukabumi and the sports equipment industry by working as an agent for companies like Mikasa, Ascot, and Yonex. PT Havilah Citra Footwear, established in 1996, was then used by him to import several sportswear varieties.

10. He won a lot of gold medals

Hartono also had some achievements in significant games. He earned two bronze medals in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles competitions as well as the men’s team gold at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok. His second gold medal came from the Asian Championships in 1971, where Indonesia overcame Malaysia in the men’s team final.

He is one of the most famous players in the history of the sport and is considered to be one of the greatest badminton players of all time