As one of Indonesia’s two richest men, Michael Bambang Hartono wants for little — and especially now that he has an Asian Games medal in his favorite pastime, bridge.
The tobacco and banking billionaire was instrumental in persuading organizers to include the card game, slightly incongruously, in the regional Olympics for the first time.
The 78-year-old is comfortably equipped at the Jakarta bridge venue, with his own guarded VIP area where he can receive guests and conduct interviews, including a meeting room, a flat-screen TV and a bed.
“We are equal, so no privilege at all,” he said.
Special treatment or not, Hartono, who is also Indonesia’s oldest competitor at the Games, is now the proud owner of an Asian Games bronze medal in the supermixed team event.
Along with his brother, Robert, Hartono has been named Indonesia’s richest man by Forbes, which also ranked him the 75th wealthiest in the world.
Hartono has amassed an estimated net worth of about US$11.8 billion from tobacco, banking and communications — using similar skills to those he employs for bridge, he said.
“Bridge is like business. First you get the data, the information. You analyze the information, and then you make a decision. So business, real life and bridge are the same. Decisionmaking is the same,” he said. “If you want to be a good leader and you want to be a successful man, businessman, play bridge.”
Hartono has been playing bridge since he was six and said he loves the challenge, but that it is not his top priority.
“No. 1 priority is of course family, No. 2 is business, and if I have time I play bridge as a hobby,” Hartono said.
Hartono is not the only Indonesian business figure involved in the Games — Erick Thohir, the media tycoon who is president of Inter Milan, is head of the organizing committee.
He is also not the oldest at the Games: In a bridge competition studded with senior citizens, Kong Te Yang of the Philippines takes that honor at the age of 85.
Walking slowly with a tetrapod support to the competition table, “KT” said he is still fascinated by bridge, which he has been playing since his 20s.
“You must be coordinated, you must be careful, there are things you don’t expect. You must know what’s possible, yet sometimes impossible become possible,” he said. “When you grow old, you still know what needs to be done, but the reflex sometimes doesn’t allow you to do. You cannot react as fast,” he added.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two