# 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.
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. His father was a brigade major of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in the war and was executed by the Japanese. 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
### Asian Games

Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
| 1962 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Tan Yee Khan | | Bronze | |

### International Open 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 | Eddie Choong | 6–15, 0–15 | Runner-up |
| 1957 | French Open | David Choong | 15–4, 15–3 | Winner |
| 1957 | German Open | Eddie 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 | Kurt 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 | US 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 | US 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 J. H. 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 |

## 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).