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| Punch replays the Clash of Titans By Cimi Tan  From left: Dato Paduka Hj Abdullah of DST Communications, Datuk Punch Gunalan, IBF Vice President and Prince Qawi at Baiduri Grand Prix ceremony last November. Datuk Punch Gunalan looks back at the Seventies as highpoints that has never quite been matched ever again in the game of badminton. He recalls the "build-up" to what may perhaps be the most famous Clash of the Badminton Titans in 1970, when he faced Rudy Hartono, Indonesia's worst nightmare for contenders at the Thomas Cup. "No, I was not afraid. In fact I was looking forward to it," Punch said in an interview yesterday. "Rudy was a legend. I had nothing to lose facing a legend, and everything to gain." He was under intense pressure, but he welcomed it. "I play better under pressure," he admitted. "But it was a tough game." Hundreds of millions of Indonesians, Malaysians, Singaporeans and even the people of Brunei were glued to their TV screens when Punch met Rudy on the courts as live coverage always followed the national champions. Through three sweat-drenched, fist-clenching agonising matches, the national champs slugged it out mano-a-mano. It ended with an Indonesian victory but Punch was no less a hero for going the distance. In fact, he too became legend. What makes a champion? Currently Vice-President for marketing of the International Badminton Federation (IBF), Punch assessed his rival Hartono to be a "very balanced, very consistent and determined player." "What makes him different from others is his degree of dedication. He'll do more than anybody else. Everyday he'll be doing hours of exercises regardless of the time he sleeps," said Punch. "He's self-motivated, single-minded and it is clear he is making more sacrifices than anybody else." Would that description fit Punch himself? "To a certain extent, but compared to him, I'm more normal. I'm not that consistent. But I am good in both singles and doubles." The Malaysian champion was the only player to have won the gold for badminton in the Asian Games, the SEA Games and the Commonwealth Games. He was also able to beat Hartono in a doubles match when he was paired with his longtime friend Ng Boon Bee. Just before retiring at age 30, Punch had a second opportunity to beat Hartono in the All-England match in 1974 when he once again came very close to taking the world championship. For himself, the match was a personal victory. "I was very thin and I was known to be weaker in stamina. But I made it through," he smiled. "Afterwards, I thought I didn't do too bad at all." It was a different time, he reminisced, the Seventies was when Asia awoke to the world of sports. Badminton champions were giants. At the other corner of the world another legend Mohammed Ali was making a comeback, breaking his fists against "the tank" Joe Frazier's puffed-up face. "Badminton today has become more competitive, more commercialised," he noted. "In those days there were not that many players and there were no $100,000 contracts. The returns for players were not so great." With badminton becoming an Olympic event since 1992, Punch said the game naturally had to change. "The game is changing as the world is moving forward," he said. "Players are more competitive." In the Olympics today, the level of supplements and special foods allowed for athletes were unheard of then in Asia 30 years ago. "People were doing it for the sport and country," he said. As to whether Asians hold the advantage for badminton, Punch said: "Badminton is a game of agility and speed. That was why Asians had the advantage," he said. "But that's changing now. More Western players are excelling in the game. Also there is a wide range of new technologies and research available to players now." Has that resulted in badminton becoming a tougher game? Are the smashes faster, more devastating now than before? "I don't know. The rackets are lighter now and I suppose that could allow for a faster smash," he said. "The thing to also note is that badminton is a very individualistic sport." While the Thomas Cup is still the biggest badminton event, held once every two years the next being in Kuala Lumpur next May, Punch said the current Baiduri Grand Prix is regarded as "very important" to badminton players as it determines their ranking. As only the three top seeds of the country is allowed for each event, the Baiduri's ranking has a lot to say as to who gets to go to the Olympics in Sydney next year. Quitting in 1974, Punch continued as national coach for the Malaysian team for almost 20 years before joining the IBF. "I enjoy meeting people. I get a great deal of pleasure from being with the players through the years," he said. Now in his mid-Fifties, the champion shuttler looked as if he hadn't aged though he was no longer as thin. The top seeds to watch are all at Baiduri, he said, identifying some of them as China's Sun Jun and Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat.
Courtesy Of Borneo Bulletin |
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