Badminton Returns Indonesia Back to Fame
In women’s singles Badminton sport, Indonesia again managed to carry a medal at the Olympics. Gregoria Mariska Tunjang managed to bring home a bronze medal in the women’s singles class without defeating an opponent. Gregoria stood on the podium happily with female athletes from South Korea, An Se Young and from China, He Bingjiao. This medal was the first medal for Indonesia.
The biggest sporting event in the world, the Olympics is held again in 2024, precisely on July 26 – August 11, 2024. This once every four-years sports party is held in a country known for its fashion and cuisine, France in Paris. Previously at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Indonesia sent its best athletes totalling 28 athletes who were dominated by weightlifting and badminton. This year, Indonesia has increased by sending 29 of Indonesia’s best athletes who are still dominated by badminton and weight lifting. Indonesia has prepared carefully to enliven the biggest sports event in the world. Not only that, even the government has prepared funds for 2024 Olympic athletes.
Badminton, became one of Indonesia’s mainstay cards to win at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Even according to PBSI (Indonesian Badminton Association) there are 9 athletes will be dispatched to Paris to play matches that compete for medals. They are Jonathan Christie and Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the men’s singles class, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in women’s singles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto in men’s doubles, Apriyani Rahayu will compete with Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti in the women’s doubles class and the last is Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentari in mixed doubles. At the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, the Badminton sport was the most highlighted by the media. One gold and one bronze each was brought to Jakarta proudly after Greysia Poli and Apriyani in the women’s doubles managed to defeat the representative pair from China, Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan. Then, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting who defeated Chen Long in the semifinals for the bronze podium.
The Indonesian Badminton contingent at the 2024 Olympics did not do much. Although, a miracle was present by Gregoria Mariska Tunjang. After losing to An Se Young in the semifinals, the final party will bring together a representative from Spain named Carolina Marin against a representative from China He Bingjiao. Unfortunately, the representative from Spain, Carolina Marin, had to withdraw from the race for the first podium due to an ACL injury in her right knee that she had suffered before the match. As a result, Gregoria managed to secure the third podium without facing her opponent because the fight for the first and second positions will present a match between An Se Young against He Bingjiao. Luck was also on the side of South Korea’s badminton contingent as Carolina Marin’s withdrawal solidified their hopes for a gold medal. The hope is increasingly visible after He Bingjiao, the representative of China must recognize the superiority of An Se Young.
Indonesia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that managed to collect 37 medals with details of gold 8 pieces, silver 14 pieces and bronze with 16 pieces or under Thailand with 10 gold being the difference. Badminton is one of the largest contributors to the medal with all of Indonesia’s gold medals won in the Badminton branch also badminton becomes the most dominating in the past 2 decades by giving birth to iconic names such as Susi Susanti, Taufik Hidayat and others. As citizens who are proud of Indonesian athletes, we should support the government to continue funding our best athletes so that they can continue to excel onto the next championships.
Sources:
Writer: Naufal Akiela (Accounting’21)
Editor: Nada Utari Rusmanda (Dentistry’21)
