Ferry Sonneville

Ferdinand Alexander "Ferry" Sonneville (3 January 1931 – 20 November 2003) was an Indonesian badminton player noted for his touch, consistency, tactical astuteness, and coolness under pressure. He won numerous international singles titles from the mid-1950s through the early 1960s and his clutch performances helped Indonesia to win its first three Thomas Cup (men's world team) titles consecutively in 1958, 1961, and 1964, setting the pattern for his country's continued formidable presence in world badminton. Sonneville's playing career ended on a sour note in the 1967 Thomas Cup final in Jakarta when, past his prime, he was roundly booed by his countrymen after dropping singles matches in Indonesia's controversial loss to Malaysia.[1]

Ferry Sonneville
Ferry Sonneville (1962)
Personal information
Birth nameFerdinand Alexander Sonneville
Country Indonesia
Born(1931-01-03)January 3, 1931
Batavia, Dutch East Indies
DiedNovember 20, 2003(2003-11-20) (aged 72)
Jakarta, DKI Jakarta
HandednessRight
EventMen's singles
Medal record
Representing  Indonesia
Men's badminton
Thomas Cup
1958 Singapore Men's team
1961 Jakarta Men's team
1964 Tokyo Men's team
1967 Jakarta Men's team
Asian Games
1962 Jakarta Men's team
1962 Jakarta Men's singles

After his high-level playing days ended Sonneville was elected to terms as both president of the International Badminton Federation (now World Badminton Federation) and president of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI).

Private life

Sonneville inherited his sports talents from his parents. His father was Dirk Jan Sonneville (1906-1944), a local tennis champion in the 1930s, and Leonij Elisabeth de Vogel (later Hubeek) (1908-1989), a badminton champion between 1935 and 1945, who taught him the game in the 1940s.[2] His father was a brigade major of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in the war and was executed by the Japanese.[3] Sonneville married Yvonne Theresia de Wit in September 1954 and had 3 children, called Ferdinand Rudy Jr. (who died at the age of 21), Genia Theresia, and Cynthia Guedolyn. Sonneville also had two grandchildren. His religion was Catholic.

Education

Erasmus University, Netherlands

Sports career
  • Jiujitsu Athlete and coach (1949–1955)
  • Playing captain or coach when Indonesia won or successfully defended Thomas Cup (world team badminton championships) 3 times in succession (1958, 1961, and 1964).
  • Winning Malaysia Open (1955), Dutch Open (1956, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962), Scotland's World Invitational Tourney (1957), French Open (1957, 1960), German Open (1958, 1960, 1961), Canadian Open (1962), U.S. Open (1962), along with runner-up finish at the All England Championships (1959)
  • PB PBSI's founder (1951) and Komite Olahraga Nasional Indonesia's founder (1966)
  • KONI's President (1970)
  • Member of staff Asian Games Federation Council (1970)
  • Chef de Mission Indonesian contingent to Olympic (1971)
  • International Federation Badminton president (1971–1974)
  • PBSI's President (1981–1985)

Achievements

Open Tournaments

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1954 Selangor Open Ong Poh Lim 15–11, 15–8 Champion
1955 Malaysia Open Jørn Skaarup 15–5, 15–4 Champion
1956 Dutch Open Hugh Findlay 15–3, 15–6 Champion
1956 German Open Eddie Choong 6–15, 0–15 Runner-up
1957 French Open David Choong 15–4, 15–3 Champion
1957 German Open Eddie Choong 12–15, 12–15 Runner-up
1958 Dutch Open Erland Kops 15–3, 15–8 Champion
1958 German Open Bo Nilsson 15–11, 15–4 Champion
1959 All England Tan Joe Hok 8–15, 15–10, 3–15 Runner-up
1959 Dutch Open Knud Aage Nielsen 13–18, 9–15 Runner-up
1959 Belgian Championships Kurt Nielsen 13–15, 2–15 Runner-up
1960 Dutch Open Hugh Findlay 15–11, 15–4 Champion
1960 French Open William Havers 15–1, 15–1 Champion
1960 German Open Lee Kin Tat 15–9, 18–13 Champion
1961 Dutch Open Charoen Wattanasin 15–8, 15–5 Champion
1961 German Open Lee Kin Tat 15–5, 15–1 Champion
1961 French Open Erland Kops 12–15, 10–15 Runner-up
1962 Dutch Open Charoen Wattanasin 15–7, 15–3 Champion
1962 German Open Erland Kops 10–15, 15–14, 3–15 Runner-up
1962 Canadian Open Jim Poole 17–16, 17–18, 15–9 Champion
1962 US Open Tan Joe Hok 17–15, 18–17 Champion

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1960 French Open David Choong Pierre Lenoir
Ghislain Vasseur		 15-4, 15-9 Champion
1962 Canadian Open Jim Carnwath Jim Poole
Bobby Williams		 6-15, 8-15 Runner-up
1962 US Open Tan Joe Hok Joe Alston
Wynn Rogers		 12-15, 13-15 Runner-up
1963 All England Open Tan Joe Hok Finn Kobberø
J. H. Hansen		 6–15, 5–15 Runner-up

Mix's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1960 French Open Yvonne Theresia Sonneville Yeoh Kean Hua
Rita A. Rabey		 w.o Champion
1963 German Open Yvonne Theresia Sonneville Poul-Erik Nielsen
Kirsten Thorndahl		 4–15, 14–17 Runner-up

Business career
  • Vayatour Chairman Executive Board Lippo Cikarang
  • Ferry Sonneville & Co – owner
  • Chairman of Realestat Indonesia Center Council 1986-1989 periods
  • President and member of the Executive Committee Realestat Internasional Federation since 1989
  • Advisory Council Chairman – International Executive Service

Educational career
  • Pioneer of Trisakti Foundation represent Lembaga Pembinaan Kesatuan Bangsa
  • Founder of Himpunan Pembina Perguruan Tinggi Swasta
  • Founder of Asosiasi Perguruan Tinggi Katholik Indonesia
  • Special Citizen and member of Atma Jaya Foundation
  • Member of Fatmawati Foundation
  • Member of Bhakti Medika Foundation
  • Member of Penyandang Anak Cacat Foundation
  • Member of Gedung Arsip Nasional Foundation
  • Indonesian Nederland Forum

Honours
  • Satya Lencana Kebudayaan (1961)
  • Tanda Jasa Bintang RI Kelas II (1964)
  • "Knighthood" from Roman Catholic Church (1972)
  • FIABCI Medal of Honour, Melbourne (1988).

References
  1. Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 123.
  2. Ferry Sonneville. Pebulu, PBSI Founder and Entrepreneur at tokohindonesia.com
  3. Dirk Jan Sonneville at oorlogsgravenstichting.nl

Sources
  • PBSI, DPP REI, Kompas 21/11/03, Media Indonesia 21/11/03/, Sinar Harapan 20/11/03/, Pikiran Rakyat 21/11/03
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