Utami Dewi Kinard (born 16 June 1951) is a former world-class badminton player who was considered Indonesia's #1 women's singles player in the 1970s, and became the United States' #1 player in 1981,[1] after marrying former 6 time U.S. men's singles champion, Chris Kinard.[2] She is also the sister of 8 time All-England singles champion, Rudy Hartono.
Early life
Utami Dewi was born in Surabaya in 1951. She is the sister of 8 time All England singles champion, Rudy Hartono. She initially pursued running, and in the 1967 PASI championship at the Senayan Jakarta, Dewi won the women's 800 meter running event.[3] She graduated from the Vocational Education Institute of Tarakanita in 1974.[4]
Career
Utami Dewi was the number 1 Indonesian women's singles player from 1971 to 1975. She played singles for the Indonesian Uber Cup teams of 1969, 1972, and 1975 (competitions then held every 3 years). The 1975 team was Indonesia's first to win the Women's World Team Championship. She was the second Indonesian player to reached the women's singles semi finals at the All England Open in 1975.[5] As Mrs. Utami Kinard she ended her career as the #1 U.S. women's singles player in 1981 representing the U.S. as the #1 player on the 1981 U.S. Uber Cup team.
Along with her Indonesian and U.S. titles, Utami Dewi won the Asian singles championship in 1971, the Australian Open singles champion in 1975, the Mexican Open women's singles and mixed doubles Champion in 1979,[6] and the South African singles champion in 1980.
Additional badminton career highlights
1972 - Munich Olympics - Won the Silver medal in badminton women's singles (badminton was a demonstration sport).[7]
1975 - All-England Badminton Championship -Reached the semi-finals of the women's singles.
Represented either Indonesia, or the U.S., or both internationally in the following countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand.
^"Utami calon sekretaris". Kompas (in Indonesian). 5 December 1974. p. 3.
^"Utami wanita Indonesia kedua yang pernah capai semifinal All England * "Tunggal putera" Rudy-Delfs dan Pri-Tjuntjun". Kompas (in Indonesian). 22 March 1975. p. 10.
^ ab"Utami Dewi menang *Dalam turnamen bulutangkis internasional di Meksiko". Kompas (in Indonesian). 25 November 1979. p. 12.
^"Australian Badminton Association Incorpated 46th Annual Report and Balance Sheet, Australian Badminton Association, 1989". Australian Badminton Association.