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.Pat Davis, The Guinness Book of Badminton (Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1983) 123.
After his high-level playing days ended, Sonneville was elected to terms as both president of the International Badminton Federation (now Badminton World 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.Ferry Sonneville. Pebulu, PBSI Founder and Entrepreneur at tokohindonesia.com His father was a brigade major of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in the war and was executed by the Japanese.Dirk Jan Sonneville at oorlogsgravenstichting.nl Sonneville married Yvonne Theresia de Wit in September 1954 and had 3 children: 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 of Badminton president (1971–1974) PBSI's President (1981–1985)
Achievements Asian Games Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result Ref 1962 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Tan Yee Khan Bronze
International tournaments (16 titles, 12 runners-up) Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1954 Selangor Open Ong Poh Lim 15–11, 15–8 Winner 1955 Malaysia Open Jørn Skaarup 15–5, 15–4 Winner 1956 Dutch Open Hugh Findlay 15–3, 15–6 Winner 1956 German Open Eddy Choong 6–15, 0–15 Runner-up 1957 French Open David Choong 15–4, 15–3 Winner 1957 German Open Eddy Choong 12–15, 12–15 Runner-up 1958 Dutch Open Erland Kops 15–3, 15–8 Winner 1958 German Open Bo Nilsson 15–11, 15–4 Winner 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 Knud Aage Nielsen 13–15, 2–15 Runner-up 1960 Dutch Open Hugh Findlay 15–11, 15–4 Winner 1960 French Open William Havers 15–1, 15–1 Winner 1960 German Open Lee Kin Tat 15–9, 18–13 Winner 1961 Dutch Open Charoen Wattanasin 15–8, 15–5 Winner 1961 German Open Lee Kin Tat 15–5, 15–1 Winner 1961 French Open Erland Kops 12–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1962 Dutch Open Charoen Wattanasin 15–7, 15–3 Winner 1962 German Open Erland Kops 10–15, 15–14, 3–15 Runner-up 1962 Canadian Open Jim Poole 17–16, 17–18, 15–9 Winner 1962 U.S. Open Tan Joe Hok 17–15, 18–17 Winner
Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1960 French Open David Choong Pierre Lenoir Ghislain Vasseur 15–4, 15–9 Winner 1962 Canadian Open Jim Carnwath Jim Poole Bobby Williams 6–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1962 U.S. Open Tan Joe Hok Joe Alston Wynn Rogers 12–15, 13–15 Runner-up 1962 Mexican Open Berndt Dahlberg Erland Kops Tan Joe Hok 7–15, 17–14, 4–15 Runner-up 1963 All England Open Tan Joe Hok Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen 6–15, 5–15 Runner-up
Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1960 French Open Yvonne Theresia Sonneville Yeoh Kean Hua Rita A. Rabey Walkover Winner 1963 German Open Yvonne Theresia Sonneville Poul-Erik Nielsen Kirsten Thorndahl 4–15, 14–17 Runner-up
Invitational tournament Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1956 World Invitational Championships Joe Alston 2–15, 15–13, 12–15 Silver 1957 World Invitational Championships Eddy Choong 8–15, 6–15 Silver 1958 World Invitational Championships Berndt Dahlberg 15–0, 17–14 Gold 1960 World Invitational Championships Finn Kobberø 12–15, 15–4, 3–15 Silver
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
Sources PBSI, DPP REI, Kompas 21/11/03, Media Indonesia 21/11/03/, Sinar Harapan 20/11/03/, Pikiran Rakyat 21/11/03
External links Pahlawan Olahraga Indonesia (In Indonesian)