The Story of the Struggles of Indonesia’s Badminton Heroes

When will all the people of Indonesia unite, breaking down the barriers of religion, ethnicity, race and social class, and unite their spirit and the beating of their hearts in a single, shared breath? The answer is when our nation’s sporting ambassadors compete on the world stage. It is at that very moment that the good name, dignity and honour of the nation are at stake in the eyes of the world. At that very moment, all differences melt away into a single cheer urging victory: Indonesia… Indonesia!

Looking back on the long history of our sport, who today still remembers the figure of Ferry Sonneville? Is there anyone who still recalls him with pride? He was one of the principal heroes, who led the Indonesian ‘mice’ to defeat the ‘giants’ of the world, bringing the Thomas Cup —the symbol of world badminton supremacy—to the Indonesian archipelago for the very first time in 1958. A badminton hero who was not only formidable on the court, but also possessed a strong faith in Christ, a resilient spirit, andhumility.

Kemayoran’s Roots and the Shaping of Childhood

In a corner of Kemayoran, Central Jakarta—near Kemayoran Station—a baby boy was born on 3 January 1931. The baby was named Ferdinand Alexander Sonneville, later known by the affectionate nickname: Ferry Sonneville. His father, Dirk Jan Sonneville, was a man of Dutch-French descent who worked as a clerk at the *Gas Maatschappij* (Gas Company) in Jakarta. Meanwhile, his mother, Leoni Elizabeth, was a woman of Indo-Dutch-Sundanese descent from Sukabumi, West Java.

This small family lived a simple life in their quiet home in the area that would later become Jalan Garuda. Their father and mother instilled a unique sense of balance in their lives. Their father was a talented tennis player who had once won a tennis tournament in Jakarta, whilst their mother was a badminton player who, in 1935, succeeded in the singles champion of the Bataviaasche Badminton Bond (Batavia Badminton Association). It was from these two parents that a passion for sport and a fighting spirit flowed strongly into young Ferry’s veins.

As a child, Ferry was thin, small and often ill. However, his father, who saw a fighter’s spirit in his son, bought him a pair of boxing gloves when Ferry was just seven years old. At home, moral values, honesty and a fear of God were instilled very strongly. The Sonneville family were devout Catholics. His father and mother taught him that above all worldly aspirations, love for God and fellow human beings is the highest foundation that must never be compromised. Whenever he was about to undertake an important task, young Ferry was taught to pray first, and always to give thanks afterwards.

However, life’s journey does not always sail smoothly in shallow waters. When Ferry was still very young—around 1935—the storm of divorce struck his parents. Leoni Elizabethforced to raise Ferry as a young widow.  As Leoni felt Ferry still needed a father’s guidance, she remarried a man named Eduart Antonius Hubeek, who worked at the Governor’s office. From his mother’s second marriage came Tonny, Ferry’s stepbrother. Meanwhile, his biological father, Dirk Jan Sonneville, also remarried a woman of Indo-Ambon descent named Noya.

The dark cloud of the Japanese occupation in the early 1940s brought even more devastating consequences for this family. The turmoil of war robbed Ferry of two fathers at once. His biological father, Dirk, was arrested by theand forced to work as a romusha until he breathed his last on a journey to Bangkok, Thailand, and was buried in Ancol, North Jakarta. His stepfather, Eduart Hubeek, met the same fate; he died whilst in Japanese captivity. At a very young age, Ferry and his younger brother Tonny officially became orphans.

The tragic murder of his father became a turning point that shaped Ferry’s emotional maturity. “That event changed my life; it determined the course of my life from then on,” Ferry recalled later. From that deep sense of grief arose a tremendous sense of responsibility to look after his mother and to become a resilient person.

During the Japanese occupation,were suspended. Ferry, who attended Santo Yoseph Kramat Raya Primary School (1937–1942), was also forced to stop his studies. To support his family and shoulder the financial burden, the young Ferry, who had no sense of pride, did not hesitate to take to the streets to sell fresh fish at the market. Amidst this harsh struggle for survival, he filled his time by reading biographies of famous figures, practising jujitsu, and playing badminton with his mother in the garden.

Character as the Primary Weapon

After the Japanese forces had departed and Indonesia gained independence, Ferry decided to continue his secondary education at the *Hogere Burger School* (HBS) on Nassau Boulevard (now Jalan Imam Bonjol, Menteng). Ferry’s stubborn yet positive character was evident when his mother relayed a message from a Brother at his primary school, suggesting that Ferry should repeat a year of primary school first. With great confidence, Ferry retorted, ‘There’s no need; Ferry can go straight to the HBS.’

It was at HBS Nassau Boulevard that Ferry’s intellectual and physical foundations were forged ever more firmly. As well as pursuing badminton, he was very active in the martial arts of jujitsu and judo. Indeed, owing to his extraordinary talent for martial arts, between 1951 and 1955 Ferry worked as a jujitsu instructor for the criminal investigation division of the police in Krekot, Jakarta. His expertise in these martial arts also led Ferry to become one of the key figures behind the establishment of the Indonesian Jujitsu Club and the All-Indonesia Judo Association.

However, amongst the tennis rackets and jujitsu mats, it was badminton that ultimately won Ferry’s heart. His talent and realisation of his potential on the badminton court came to the fore in 1949. At that time, at the Sports Week in Bandung, Ferry, who competed without any special preparation, managed to win the tournament and dazzled sports observers. In the same year, Ferry was called up to the Indonesian junior badminton squad to take part in the first post-independence international friendly match against the Penang team from Malaya. Although the Indonesian squad was soundly defeated by the experienced Malayan players, Ferry Sonneville became the only Indonesian player to secure a victory by defeating Cheah Thien Kioe.

The key to Ferry’s success lies in a philosophy of life to which he has always remained steadfast: The Love to Fight—the spirit and passion for the fight itself. Ferry is driven by the teachings of his mentors, such as Meneer van Alphen during his time at Vincentius Primary School, who would always whisper words of encouragement: *"Come on, Fer, you can do better..."* (Come on, Fer, you can do better!).

For Ferry, a true sportsman does not compete solely for the sake of victory or out of fear of defeat. Victory is a bonus, but the fight itself is the joy (Je geniet, wanneer je vecht). Because the fight is experienced as an art form and a dedication, defeat never breaks his spirit. In fact, from every match, Ferry developed a highly unique method of analytical reconstruction. After a match, he would sit for hours reconstructing the course of the bout. He dissects his opponents’ techniques, picks apart their tactics, and notes down his own mistakes.

“I learn a great deal from my opponents, whether they are stronger or weaker than me,” said Ferry. This method of analysis has recently become a pre-match preparation tool. Before taking to the pitch, Ferry visualises his opponents’ play in his mind, simulates tactical battles and prepares his best counter-strategies.

Looking at the World, Love, and Rotterdam

The years 1951 to 1955 marked Ferry Sonneville’s rise to prominence on the domestic and regional stages. He won the Jakarta and Bandung Badminton Championships consecutively (1951, 1952). Ferry’s name made waves across South-East Asia when he won the 1954 Selangor Open in Malaya, defeating two of the world’s badminton giants of the time: Wong Peng Soon in the previous round and Ong Poh Lim in the final in straight sets (15–11, 15–8). A week later in 1955, he reaffirmed his dominance by winning the Malaya Open after thrashing the strong Danish player, Jørn Skaarup, with a resounding score of 15–5 and 15–4.

Amidst the clatter of shuttlecocks and his studies at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI), fate brought Ferry together with his true love. On a badminton court in 1951, Ferry met Yvonne Theresia de Wit, the youngest daughter of the De Wit family, whose father worked for the Dutch shipping company, K.P.M. (Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij). The seeds of love began to grow between these two young lovers who shared the same interests. Yvonne was captivated by Ferry, who was very likeable, friendly, hard-working and courteous.

On 29 September 1954, Ferry and Yvonne officially exchanged their wedding vows. However, Ferry’s extraordinary workload as an international athlete, a board member of PBSI Jakarta Raya, and the head of the household meant that his medical studies were put on hold. Ferry subsequently changed the course of his life. With the full support of his wife and mother, Ferry decided to pursue a degree in economics.

At the end of 1955, Ferry set sail for the Netherlands to continue his studies in economics at the Nederlandse Economische Hoogeschool (now Erasmus University) in Rotterdam. In Rotterdam, Ferry organised his time with great discipline: studying economics, working at the Bank Indonesia branch in Rotterdam, actively leading the Indonesian Students’ Association (PPI), and continuing to compete in various international badminton tournaments. Ferry and Yvonne’s marriage was blessed with three children: one son (who died young) and two daughters.

During his time in Europe, Ferry’s prowess on the badminton court became increasingly unrivalled. The European media dubbed him “The Giant Killer” (The Giant Killer). He brought home one title after another: the Dutch Open (1956, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962), Scotland’s World Invitational Tournament (1957), French Open (1957, 1960), German Open (1958, 1960, 1961), Canadian Open (1962), and US Open (1962). Indeed, at the 1960 French Open, Ferry played mixed doubles alongside his own wife, Yvonne, and emerged as the champion.

At the 1959 All England Championships—the world’s most prestigious tournament—Ferry reached the final. In that historic All-Indonesian Final, Ferry faced his junior, Tan Joe Hok. The fierce three-set match ended in victory for Tan Joe Hok (15–8, 10–15, 15–3). However, rather than being disappointed, Ferry welcomed Tan Joe Hok’s victory with great humility and pride, as the Red and White flag was raised on the highest podium in London.

His passion for the sport of badminton is also reflected in his written work. Ferry has written two guidebooks on badminton technique: Better Badminton (in Dutch, published in 1955) and High-Quality Badminton (published by Kinta Publishers, 1959/1963), which became a compulsory handbook for the next generation of athletes in Indonesia.

The Miracle of the 1958 Thomas Cup

The year 1958 marked the most glorious chapter in the history of Indonesian sport. For the first time, Indonesia dared to take part in the world’s most prestigious men’s team championship: the Thomas Cup. At that time, the Indonesian team comprised a mix of young players and veterans: Tan Joe Hok, Eddy Joesoef, Tan King Gwan, Njoo Kim Bie, Lie Poo Djian, Tio Tjoe Djen, and Tan Thiam Beng.

However, the Indonesian squad was considered to lack a field general and a strategic mastermind. The public was well aware that Ferry Sonneville, who was in Rotterdam at the time, was desperately needed. Unfortunately, the PBSI was facing a severe financial crisis at the time and did not have the funds to pay for Ferry’s return ticket.

Faced with this impasse, a surge of public solidarity emerged. Tjoa Keng Lin, a resident of Bogor, initiated a public fundraising campaign. Star Weekly, a well-known weekly magazine at the time, specifically set up a public donation fund. Remarkably, in a short space of time, a sum of Rp175,000 was raised—a staggering figure for that era. Rp40,000 was used to fund Ferry’s flight from the Netherlands, whilst the remainder served as operational capital for the Indonesian Thomas Cup team.

At the Singapore Badminton Hall on Guillemard Road, Singapore, Indonesia’s “Si Tikus” team pulled off one miracle after another. After thrashing Denmark (6–3) and Thailand (8–1), Indonesia faced the defending champions Malaya (now Malaysia – ed.) in the final. Betting markets and the-media scoffed that Indonesia would be unable to withstand the onslaught of Malaya’s world-class stars such as Eddy Choong and Teh Kew San. Tan Liang Tie, a journalist for Star Weekly, described the match as "The Mouse Against the Giant".

However, led by Ferry Sonneville—who acted as captain, player and tactical mastermind—Indonesia spectacularly crushed Malaya with a score of 6–3. The world was stunned, and Tan Liang Tie turned the phrase on its head to describe it as a historic moment: ‘The Mouse Swallows the Giant’. Indonesia brought the Thomas Cup home for the first time. In recognition of this great achievement, President Soekarno awardedthe Satya Lencana Kebudayaan Medal (1961) and the Order of Merit (1964) to Ferry and his teammates. Soekarno declared that these badminton players were “national heroes who fought in the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika”.

Ferry led the Indonesian Thomas Cup squad on four consecutive occasions (1958, 1961, 1964, and 1967). Of all these encounters, the most dramatic match took place in the Thomas Cup semi-final on 21 May 1964 at the Metropolitan Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, when Indonesia faced Denmark. Ferry had to take to the court in a crucial match against Denmark’s giant badminton king, Erland Kops. In previous individual tournaments, Ferry had more often than not lost to Kops.

The night before the match, Ferry couldn’t sleep. Lying in bed, a battle raged in his mind. He recalled the words his wife, Yvonne, had said as she saw him off at Schiphol Airport: “Je moet winnen en ik zal voor jou bidden” (You must win, and I will keep praying for you). Ferry replayed every one of Kops’s moves in his mind. He knew Kops had tremendous stamina, so he had to take the initiative and attack right from the start.

Yet amidst the tension of that tactical analysis, Ferry realised one thing: that this battle was no longer about himself, but rather to defend the good name and honour of the Indonesian nation and state. He finally brought that battle of the imagination in bed to a close with a profound prayer of surrender to the Almighty God Almighty.

The following day, as he stepped onto the pitch, Ferry’s heart was filled with an overwhelming sense of resignation. Ferry fought tooth and nail, employing every tactic and drawing on all his stamina, until he finally managed to defeat Erland Kops. Ferry’s victory propelled Indonesia into the final and secured the retention of the 1964 Thomas Cup.

God Is Not Neutral

Upon returning to his homeland, a journalist asked in a sceptical tone: ‘You keep saying God, God, God. It’s as if you yourself aren’t trying to win.” Ferry’s reply was that he respected the journalist’s beliefs. The fact that he and the entire Indonesian Thomas Cup team were fighting tooth and nail was something no one could deny—not even Ferry himself. But he had to be true to his conscience, and for that reason he could do nothing else but admit that, ‘…at those moments, God felt very close to me. I had never felt so close to Him before.’

“For me, this has been the highlight of my life so far. The presence of God, which is so tangible to me, is the foundation for my future service,” he continued. Ferry’s words and emotion were neither hypocritical nor insincere. Rather, they were the words of a sincere and honest athlete.

Another journalist commented, “God is so exalted. How can we drag God’s name into something as trivial as sport? When it comes to oppression, or oppression, surely God should side with what is right. But when it comes to this battle for the Thomas Cup, God is certainly neutral.” With tears in his eyes and a soft voice full of sincerity, Ferry replied: “God is indeed neutral. But He is not neutral towards those who ask of Him with deep humility. For through such supplication, humankind acknowledges His omnipotence. A heart that asks sincerely is pleasing to Him, and He bestows His grace.”

The Thomas Cup is no longer merely a sporting affair. It has evolved into a matter of national prestige. At that-that time, the hearts of the people were united. Within this unity lay a shared destiny, a desire for unity and love for the homeland.

The Economist, Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, and Property Figures

Ferry Sonneville was no ordinary athlete. Off the badminton court, he was an intellectual and a highly capable economist. His economic thinking was strongly shaped whilst studying in Rotterdam under the guidance of Prof. Jan Tinbergen—the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics (1969). Prof. Tinbergen taught Ferry not to view the future as a mere reflection of the past, but rather to uphold the principle of Albrecht van Rodenbach: “...in het nu wat worden zal” (It is the present that will determine the future).

It was this experience and his progressive thinking that captivated President Soekarno. When Ferry completed his studies and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Drs.) from Erasmus University in 1963, he returned to his homeland. Thanks to his expertise in banking, honed whilst working at the Rotterdam branch of Bank Indonesia, Ferry was immediately entrusted with a strategic position.

In 1963, Ferry Sonneville was appointed Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, assisting the then Governor of Bank Indonesia, Yusuf Muda Dalam. At Bank Indonesia, Ferry played a vital role in pioneering the establishment of Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia (IGGI), an international consortium that provided significant support for the financing of Indonesia’s economic development.

In 1967, Ferry chose to resign honourably from his post as Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia. His main reasons were his integrity and sense of responsibility. Ferry felt that his extremely busy schedule outside banking—such as helping to establish the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) alongside Jono Sewojo and Maulawi Saelan—might compromise the professionalism of the state-owned bank.

Ferry then turned his energies to the private sector. He founded the property company PT Ferry Sonneville & Co. in 1968. His company succeeded in acquired and managed 800 hectares of land in the Gunung Putri area of Bogor, making his company one of the second-largest property developers in Indonesia at the time.

His success in the property sector led to Ferry being elected Chairman of Real Estate Indonesia (REI) for the period 1985–1988. It is acknowledgeddid not stop at the national level; in 1989, Ferry was appointed a member of the Executive Committee of FIABCI (International Real Estate Federation) and served as World President of FIAC (1995).

Works in Ministry, Education, and the Pinnacle of Service to Badminton

Despite his tremendous success as a property developer and a wealthy businessman, Ferry Sonneville’s heart remains devoted to social service, education and community development. For Ferry, wealth and position are gifts from God that must be dedicated to the betterment of humanity.

In the field of higher education, Ferry is one of the key figures who spearheaded the establishment of Trisakti University. He serves as Chairman of the Trisakti University Foundation whilst also working as a lecturer in economics, teaching students there. Not only that, Ferry also dedicated himself as a member of the Atma Jaya Catholic University of Jakarta Foundation, helping to develop the Catholic university into an independent educational institution of integrity.

In the fields of humanitarian work and healthcare, Ferry serves as Chairman of the Fatmawati Hospital Foundation in Jakarta. He devotes his time, energy and expertise free of charge to ensure that healthcare services for the poor run smoothly. Furthermore, since 1977, Ferry has been appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of  International Executive Service Corps (IESC)—a US non-profit organisation that channels funding for public housing, healthcare facilities and schools in developing countries. In 1981, Ferry was appointed Chairman of IESC Indonesia.

However, his passion for badminton never wavered. His dedication to the badminton organisation has been truly fantastic. Some of the key ones are as follows:

• Founder of PBSI (1951): Together with Sudirman, Ramli Rikin and Sumantri, Ferry helped establish the Indonesian Badminton Association.
• President of the IBF / International Badminton Federation (1972–1975): Ferry made history as the first Indonesian to be elected to lead the world badminton federation, which isbased in London.
• President of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) (1981–1985): At the 13th PBSI National Congress in Bandung in 1981, Ferry was elected President of the PBSI Executive Board.

Under his leadership as President of the PBSI, Ferry implemented an extraordinary cultural strategy known as &‘Decentralised Development’. He revitalised regional badminton schools, expanded the number of Education and Training Centres (Pusdiklat), and incorporated badminton into the curriculum of lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools and universities.

The fruits of his leadership were evident at the 1984 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur. Under Ferry’s leadership, the Indonesian team successfully reclaimed the Thomas Cup from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in a truly nail-biting final. Ferry proved himself not only a successful player, but was also hailed as the “Thomas Cup Hero” and an unrivalled sports mentor.

A Serene Sunset and an Enduring Legacy

As time went by, Ferry Sonneville’s hair turned white as cotton. However, his friendliness, humility and polite manner of speaking never changed. His friendsremember him as someone who was always eager to help. He never refused to lend a hand to anyone in need. On several occasions, he himself suffered losses, because he trusted others too much. Ferry loved to help others, perhaps because he himself had experienced the hardships of life during his childhood.

In the late 1990s, Ferry Sonneville, through his property company, donated a plot of land measuring 1,000 square metres on Jalan Gunung Putri Utama II, Tlajung Udik, Gunung Putri Sub-district, Bogor Regency. This donation was made out of Ferry’s concern, as a devout Catholic, to ensure that the Catholic community in the Gunung Putri area had a suitable place of worship. This place of worship, which initially had the status of a station/chapel under the Holy Family Parish of Cibinong, has continued to develop in line with the growing number of parishioners. It is now an independent parish known as: St Vincentius a Paulo Parish, Gunung Putri, Bogor.

Towards the end of his life, he faced physical trials. Ferry was diagnosed with complications arising from leukaemia (blood cancer) and bowel cancer. Throughout a year of battling the pain in his body, Ferry never once complained. His steadfast Christian faith enabled him to face those difficult times with great fortitude and resignation. His beloved wife, Yvonne, together with their two daughters, Genia and Cynthia, faithfully stood by him every stepof his struggle.

In the early hours of Thursday, 20 November 2003, at the Metropolitan Medical Centre (MMC) Hospital in Jakarta, this Indonesian badminton hero breathed his last at the age of 72. His body was dressed in an elegant dark safari suit with polished black brogues. His white hair was neatly combed back. His face looked serene and peaceful, as if he were enjoying a long sleep in his coffin before finally being cremated in Marunda, North Jakarta. The Indonesian nation is in mourning at the passing of this legend.

Ferry Sonneville left a legacy far more valuable than mere trophies or material possessions. He bequeathed Five Paths to Victory, the formula for his success, to Indonesia’s younger generation as they face the challenges of the times, namely: unshakeable resolve, knowledge and intelligence that are constantly honed, unity in diversity, selfless honesty, and last but not least, faith in God.

Ferry Sonneville’s life is a true reflection of the Scripture verse that has always strengthened his journey through life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.”  (2 Timothy 4:7)

Ferry has brought his life’s journey in this world to an extraordinary conclusion. From an orphaned boy in Kemayoran who sold fresh fish, he grew to become a world badminton giant, a national banking economist, leader of an international organisation, and a humble servant of God. The name Ferry Sonneville will continue to live on and shine in the hearts of the Indonesian people—as an eternal example of how to serve one’s country with unwavering faith, a resilient spirit, and a heart full of love.

Bibliography:

Jakob Oetama. Ferry Sonneville, The Love to Fight, Instilled from Childhood. Intisari, July 1964.

Wisnu Subagyo. Ferry Sonneville, His Work and Dedication. Ministry of Education and Culture.

Wikipedia (id.wikipedia.org). Ferry Sonneville.