PROMISING SHUTTLER QUITS BADMINTON OFFICIALS

Riky at Changi Airport yesterday before flying home to Indonesia. SBA officials had wanted him to become Singaporean in time to represent the country at this year’s SEA Games, but his parents felt he was too young to make the move. — ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

Doubles specialist Riky Widianto, 17, who has been here since 2005, flew home to Indonesia yesterday after tendering his resignation to the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) earlier this month.

Badminton officials had wanted him to become Singaporean in time to represent the country at this year’s South-east Asia Games, but Riky said his parents felt he was too young to make the move.

‘I wanted to stay and fulfil my dream as a badminton champion for Singapore,’ he told The Straits Times. ‘But I had no choice because the association told me I had to become a citizen now, or quit.

‘My family told me to wait another year or two, but the SBA couldn’t wait.’

The full-time player was also unhappy with his monthly pay of $1,350, saying it was barely enough to cover his living expenses.

They included his $400 monthly room rent at the Singapore Sports School, and $350 a month for catered meals there.

The Surabaya native said he was sad to leave Singapore and his friends, but did not want to defy his family’s wishes.

Asked if Riky had been given an ultimatum, SBA chief executive Edwin Pang told The Straits Times: ‘We advised him to resign if he did not want to switch citizenship.’

He explained that the shuttler had been earmarked not only for the SEA Games, but also the World Junior Championships, Asian and Commonwealth Games next year.