Real estate developers – Pembangunan Jaya Raya – picked badminton as the core sport under its CSR programme that also includes athletics and football – and the stars that have come through this Badminton Academy speaks of the success.
World stars who became household in the badminton fraternity – like Rudy Hartono, Susi Susanti, Hendra Setiawan, Markis Kido, Candra Wijaya, Tony Gunawan, Bambang Suprianto, Greysia Polii, Nitya Krishinda Maheswari, Apriani Rahayu, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon are just some of the names.
It is not stopping here for Academy Jaya Raya. The Academy is ready to produce more future stars, both local and overseas.
The locals under the age of 13 years do their training at the Jaya Raya Ragunan which has eight coaches and study in a normal school in the area before they can graduate to the Academy Pembangunan Jaya Raya in Bintaro.
However, those 13 years and above who have made the grade, totalling 120, are housed at the Academy Pembangunan Jaya Raya which has a hostel and a school with 11 teachers for their studies. This Academy has 16 courts for training.
The Academy has also become a favourite place for foreign teams to come and train here. Among the countries that have trained or are training here are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States, Korea, India, Qatar, Canada, France, England, Moldova, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan.
With an annual budget of USD285,000, (40 Billion Rupiah) the Academy has 24 coaches, 11 teachers and a management staff of 19 for the 120 juniors. Those who "graduate" from Academy Ragunan will move to Academy Jaya Raya.
Pembangunan Jaya Raya Foundation Executive Director Ir. R. Tony Soehartono, MM., CRMP said: "We want to make this badminton academy the best in the world…that is our aim and we are not far off from achieving the target.
"The response from badminton playing countries around the world to train here has been tremendous as we have the best training and accommodation facilities. We are leaving no stones unturned and any shortcomings are taken care of immediately.
"So far there have been no major complaints. We have received the thumbs up from the foreigners."
