Rudy Hartono

Rudy Hartono
Personal information
Birth name	Rudy Hartono Kurniawan Chinese: 梁海量 Nio Hap Liang
Country	Indonesia
Born	(1949-08-18) August 18, 1949 Surabaya, East Java
Height
Handedness	Right
Men's singles

Rudy Hartono Kurniawan (Chinese: 梁海量; pinyin: Liang Hailiang), born August 18, 1949) is a former Indonesian badminton star who won the men's singles title at the prestigious All-England Championship eight times, seven times consecutively (1968–1974) in the 1960s and 1970s, and at World Championship in 1980 on his only attempt at this title. 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. His sister is also a former world-level badminton player, Utami Dewi Kinard.

Badminton career

During his prime years Hartono won men's singles in most of the international tournaments that he entered. He also played on six consecutive Indonesian Thomas Cup (men's international) teams between 1967 and 1982, the first of these when he was only seventeen, helping Indonesia to win four consecutive world team championships (1970, 1973, 1976, 1979) in what was then a triennial event. His game was characterized by great power, accuracy, agility, mobility, aggressiveness, and coolness under pressure. In 1997 he was among the first group of players inducted into the World Badminton Hall of Fame.

1972 Summer Olympics

Hartono competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where badminton was one of two demonstration sports. It was the first time that the sport was part of the Olympic program, and it would become an official Olympic sport 20 years later at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

He won the men's singles event, after beating Jamie Paulson of Canada in the first round, Sture Johnsson of Sweden in the semifinals, and Svend Pri of Denmark in the final 15–6, 15–1.

Medals achieved

Rank	Event	Date	Venue
World Championships
1	Singles	1980	Jakarta, INA
Thomas Cup
1	Team	1970	Kuala Lumpur, MAS
		1973	Jakarta, INA
		1976	Bangkok, THA
		1979	Jakarta, INA
2		1967	Jakarta, INA
		1982	London, ENG

Career statistics

BWF tournaments finals

Singles

Wins

Date	Tournament	Opponent in final	Score
1980	World Championships	Liem Swie King	15–9, 15–9

International tournaments finals (partial list)

Singles

Wins

Date	Tournament	Opponent in final	Score
1968	All England Open	Tan Aik Huang
1969	All England Open	Darmadi
1969	U.S. Open	Muljadi
1969	Canadian Open
1970	All England Open	Svend Pri
1971	Denmark Open	Ippei Kojima
1971	All England Open	Muljadi
1971	Canadian Open	Ippei Kojima
1972	All England Open	Svend Pri
1972	Denmark Open
1973	All England Open	Christian Hadinata
1974	All England Open	Punch Gunalan
1974	Denmark Open
1976	All England Open	Liem Swie King
1981	Japan Open	Lius Pongoh

Runner-ups

Date	Tournament	Opponent in final	Score
1971	U.S. Open	Muljadi
1975	All England Open	Svend Pri
1978	All England Open	Liem Swie King

Doubles

Runner-ups

Date	Tournament	Event	Partner	Opponents in final	Score
1971	All England	MD	Indra Gunawan	Ng Boon Bee Punch Gunalan

Sources

• Smash - Rudy Hartono
• His profile in Badmintoncentral
• His profile in Tokohindonesia (Indonesian)

• His profile in KONI (Indonesian)
• His profile in Bulutangkis.com (Indonesian)
• Change of court for Rudy Hartono

Cited