Verawaty Wiharjo
Encyclopedia
Verawaty Wiharjo Fadjrin (born 1 October 1957, Jakarta, Indonesia), is a former badminton
player who won international titles spanning from the late 1970s to the end of the 1980s. Tall and powerful, at one time or another she played each of the three variations of the sport (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles) at the highest world level.
in Jakarta
over fellow countrywoman Ivana Lie
. Verawaty had been runner-up to Denmark
's Lene Koppen at the prestigious All-England Championships
that year. She won the Southeast Asian Games
title in 1981 and the Indonesia Open
in 1982. Most of her early titles in women's doubles were in partnership with Imelda Wiguno (Wigoeno)
. Together, they won the Asian Games
(1978), the Danish Open (1979), the Canadian Open
(1979), the All England
(1979), and the Southeast Asian Games
(1981). They were runners-up at the World Championships
in 1980, and Verawaty was runner-up at the 1982 All England
with another fellow countrywoman Ruth Damayanti.
Following a hiatus in her international badminton career from 1983 to 1985, Verawaty enjoyed impressive success in her late late twenties and early thirties. She shared the women's doubles title at the Indonesia Open
in 1986 and 1988, and finished second with Ivana Lie
at the World Badminton Grand Prix
in 1986. Her greatest success late in her career, however, came in mixed doubles, which she had rarely played earlier. She won the 1986 Malaysia Open
with Bobby Ertanto
and the 1988 Malaysia Open with Eddy Hartono
. In 1989 Verawaty and the fluent stroking Hartono won the World Badminton Grand Prix
, and the Dutch
and Indonesia Opens
together. They also reached the final round of the 1989 IBF World Championships
in Jakarta, but could not overcome South Korea
's Chung Myung-hee
and the very formidable Park Joo-bong
.
Verawaty led Indonesian
Uber Cup
(women's international) teams that finished second to Japan
in 1978 and 1981, and to China
in 1986. Of the seven matches won and the fourteen matches lost by Indonesia, collectively, in the final rounds of these three competitions, Verawaty was involved in six of the wins and only three of the losses. She also helped Indonesia
win the Sudirman Cup
(combined men's and women's team championship) over South Korea
in 1989, her final year of international play.
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
player who won international titles spanning from the late 1970s to the end of the 1980s. Tall and powerful, at one time or another she played each of the three variations of the sport (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles) at the highest world level.
Career
During a relatively brief period as a regular singles competitor, Verawaty won the 1980 IBF World Championships1980 IBF World Championships
-Medalists:-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's doubles:-Mixed doubles:-Medal table:-External links:*http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19800528.1.26.aspx...
in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
over fellow countrywoman Ivana Lie
Ivana Lie
Ivana Lie is a former female Chinese Indonesian badminton player who played at the world level from the late 1970s to the late 1980s.-Career:...
. Verawaty had been runner-up to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
's Lene Koppen at the prestigious All-England Championships
All England Open Badminton Championships
The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...
that year. She won the Southeast Asian Games
Badminton at the Southeast Asian Games
Badminton is a Southeast Asian Games event and has been one of the sports held at the Games since the inaugural edition of the South East Asian Peninsular Games in 1959.-Medal table:-Individual competition:-Team competition:-References:***...
title in 1981 and the Indonesia Open
Indonesia Open (badminton)
The Indonesia Open in an annual badminton tournament organized by Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia and held in Indonesia since 1982. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournament in 2007 and got the Premier Super Series status in 2011....
in 1982. Most of her early titles in women's doubles were in partnership with Imelda Wiguno (Wigoeno)
Imelda Wiguno
Imelda Wiguno is a former badminton player from Indonesia who played at the world class level from the mid 1970s through the mid 1980s.-Career:...
. Together, they won the Asian Games
Badminton at the Asian Games
Badminton is one of the regular Asian Games sports since 1962 in Jakarta, Indonesia.-History:Badminton made its debut in the Asian Games as a demonstration sport at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, and became a regular competitive sport in 1962. In the 1962 Games, six events were held, with...
(1978), the Danish Open (1979), the Canadian Open
Canadian Open (badminton)
The Canadian Open in badminton is an international open held in Canada since 1957. The tournament is traditionally held every year in September....
(1979), the All England
All England Open Badminton Championships
The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...
(1979), and the Southeast Asian Games
Badminton at the Southeast Asian Games
Badminton is a Southeast Asian Games event and has been one of the sports held at the Games since the inaugural edition of the South East Asian Peninsular Games in 1959.-Medal table:-Individual competition:-Team competition:-References:***...
(1981). They were runners-up at the World Championships
1980 IBF World Championships
-Medalists:-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's doubles:-Mixed doubles:-Medal table:-External links:*http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19800528.1.26.aspx...
in 1980, and Verawaty was runner-up at the 1982 All England
1982 All England Open Badminton Championships
The 1982 All England Open was the 72nd edition of the All England Open Badminton Championships. It was held in 1982, in Wembley, London.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's doubles:-Mixed doubles:...
with another fellow countrywoman Ruth Damayanti.
Following a hiatus in her international badminton career from 1983 to 1985, Verawaty enjoyed impressive success in her late late twenties and early thirties. She shared the women's doubles title at the Indonesia Open
Indonesia Open (badminton)
The Indonesia Open in an annual badminton tournament organized by Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia and held in Indonesia since 1982. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournament in 2007 and got the Premier Super Series status in 2011....
in 1986 and 1988, and finished second with Ivana Lie
Ivana Lie
Ivana Lie is a former female Chinese Indonesian badminton player who played at the world level from the late 1970s to the late 1980s.-Career:...
at the World Badminton Grand Prix
World Badminton Grand Prix
The World Badminton Grand Prix was an annual badminton tournament organized by the International Badminton Federation to crown the best badminton player of the year. The tournament only invited the top eight players in the year-end world rankings. The tournament started in 1983, with the last...
in 1986. Her greatest success late in her career, however, came in mixed doubles, which she had rarely played earlier. She won the 1986 Malaysia Open
Malaysia Open (badminton)
The Malaysia Open is an annual badminton event that commonly held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The tournament has been held since 1937 and has been played in different locations such as Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang, Selangor, Kuantan....
with Bobby Ertanto
Bobby Ertanto
Bobby Ertanto is a retired male badminton player from Indonesia who specialized in doubles. Paired with a variety of fellow countrymen, he shared the Malaysia Open title in 1983, the Thailand Open title in 1985, the Badminton World Cup title in 1986, and the Asian Championships in 1987. He won...
and the 1988 Malaysia Open with Eddy Hartono
Eddy Hartono
Eddy Hartono Arbie is a former Chinese Indonesian badminton player who excelled in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After a brief stint competing in singles, he soon became a doubles specialist noted for his deft racket control and fluent strokes.-Career:...
. In 1989 Verawaty and the fluent stroking Hartono won the World Badminton Grand Prix
World Badminton Grand Prix
The World Badminton Grand Prix was an annual badminton tournament organized by the International Badminton Federation to crown the best badminton player of the year. The tournament only invited the top eight players in the year-end world rankings. The tournament started in 1983, with the last...
, and the Dutch
Dutch Open (badminton)
The Dutch Open is an annual badminton tournament held in the Netherlands since 1932 and currently organized by Nederlandse Badminton Bond . It is a part of the European Badminton Circuit.-Past winners:-External links:**...
and Indonesia Opens
Indonesia Open (badminton)
The Indonesia Open in an annual badminton tournament organized by Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia and held in Indonesia since 1982. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournament in 2007 and got the Premier Super Series status in 2011....
together. They also reached the final round of the 1989 IBF World Championships
1989 IBF World Championships
-Medalists:- Men's singles :- Women's singles :- Men's doubles :- Women's doubles :- Mixed doubles :-References:***...
in Jakarta, but could not overcome South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
's Chung Myung-hee
Chung Myung-hee
Chung Myung-hee is a former female badminton player from South Korea.Chung was a nine-time All England Open champion , and won the gold medals at the 1989 and 1991 IBF World Championships in mixed doubles, with Park Joo-bong...
and the very formidable Park Joo-bong
Park Joo-bong
Park Joo-bong is a former badminton player from South Korea who excelled from the early 1980s through the mid 1990s....
.
Verawaty led Indonesian
Indonesia national badminton team
The Indonesia national badminton team represents Indonesia in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia, PBSI , the governing body for badminton in Indonesia...
Uber Cup
Uber Cup
The Uber Cup, sometimes called the World Team Championships for Women, is a major international badminton competition contested by women's national badminton teams. First held in 1956-1957 and contested at three year intervals, it has been contested every two years since 1984 when its scheduled...
(women's international) teams that finished second to Japan
Japan national badminton team
The Japan national badminton team represents Japan in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup*1964 - Semi-finalist *1967 - Final round...
in 1978 and 1981, and to China
China national badminton team
The China national badminton team represents the People's Republic of China in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Badminton Association of the People's Republic of China, the governing body for badminton in China....
in 1986. Of the seven matches won and the fourteen matches lost by Indonesia, collectively, in the final rounds of these three competitions, Verawaty was involved in six of the wins and only three of the losses. She also helped Indonesia
Indonesia national badminton team
The Indonesia national badminton team represents Indonesia in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia, PBSI , the governing body for badminton in Indonesia...
win the Sudirman Cup
Sudirman Cup
Sudirman Cup is the world mixed team badminton championship which takes place every two years. There are five matches in every round: men and women's singles, men and women's doubles and mixed doubles. The Cup is named after Dick Sudirman, a former Indonesian badminton player and the founder of the...
(combined men's and women's team championship) over South Korea
Korea national badminton team
The Korea national badminton team represents South Korea in international badminton team competitions.-Participation in BWF competitions:Thomas Cup *1984 - Fourth place*1992 - Semi-finalist*1996 - Semi-finalist*2000 - Semi-finalist*2004 - Semi-finalist...
in 1989, her final year of international play.