Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu have made Olympic history, being Indonesia’s first female athletes to win gold in the women’s doubles badminton event.
By
Yulia Sapthiani
·7 minutes read
AFP/POOL/LINTAO ZHANG
Indonesia\'s Apriyani Rahayu (L) and Indonesia\'s Greysia Polii pose on the court with their women\'s doubles badminton gold medals during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Tokyo on August 2, 2021.
Greysia Polli and Apriyani Rahayu went through life’s ups and downs prior to winning gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Greysia was once at her lowest when she was disqualified in the 2012 London Olympics and when her partner chose to retire due to an injury. Apriyani, meanwhile, built her career from the very bottom, starting by using racquets made from a piece of board.
Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu have made Olympic history, being Indonesia’s first female athletes to win gold in the women’s doubles badminton event. They successfully reached the highest achievement in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics despite the challenges that they had encountered in their lives.
During the final match in Musashino Forest Sport Plaza on Monday (2/8/2021), Greysia/Apriyani defeated Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan from China in two sets 21-19, 21-15. Happy tears were shed when they had secured Olympic gold.
The tears represented every emotion they had felt not only during the match, but also in their struggles prior to the Olympics. The two athletes climbed different hills before they finally reached the pinnacle of their careers.
Most recently, Greysia lost her brother, Rickettsia Polii, who passed away on December 24, 2020, shortly after Greysia wedded Felix Djimin. Rickettsia was a father figure for Greysia, whose father had passed away years ago.
AP PHOTO/DITA ALANGKARA
Indonesia\'s Greysia Polii, right, and Apriyani Rahayu celebrate with their gold medals after defeating China\'s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan during their women\'s doubles gold medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
The darkest episode of her badminton career occurred in another Olympics. During her debut in the 2021 London Olympics, Greysia, who was paired with Meiliana Jauhari, was disqualified despite having made it to the quarter-finals.
Together with three other competing pairs, namely Ha Jung-eung/Kim Min-jung and Jung Kyung-eun/Kim Ha-na (South Korea) as well as Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang (China), Greysia/Meiliana were removed from the competition. The four pairs were perceived as lacking in sportsmanship as they allegedly did not try their best to win the matches.
Looking back, Greysia saw that bitter experience as a source of motivation.
“I did some self-reflection, not only from the 2021 London Olympics experience, but from all experiences that I’ve acquired since I was 13. At that time, I witnessed my seniors becoming champions. They won Olympic and other world-class matches. My dream is to become like them. God has given me one specific goal in my life, namely to secure Olympic gold in women’s doubles,” said Greysia to Kompas journalist Agung Setyahadi, who covered women’s doubles badminton in Tokyo.
I did some self-reflection, not only from the 2021 London Olympics experience, but from all experiences that I’ve acquired since I was 13.
The opportunity to realize her dream came when she made it to the 2012 London Olympics. “[The disqualification] had resulted in pros and cons. But I only want to listen to those who genuinely support me. They told me not to give up since I shouldered women’s doubles,” Greysia recalled.
Amid fierce competitions with rivals from China, Japan and South Korea, who Greysia perceived as way too strong, Greysia started rebuilding her career. She partnered again with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari, who was once her partner from 2008 to 2010.
TANGKAPAN LAYAR
President Joko Widodo congratulated and expressed his pride through a video call with Greysia and Apriyani who won gold medals in women\'s badminton doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Monday (2/8/2021).
Gryesia and Nitya were two of the best athletes despite having no major sport titles. However, with coach Eng Hian’s training, the two surprised the public during the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Eng Hian, who formerly played in the men’s doubles, came to the national training center (Pelatnas) in Cipayung in March 2014.
Their rivals from China, South Korea and Japan were favorites to take the titles. Regardless, Greysia/Nitya, successfully outplayed these strong players and seized the gold medal.
Greysia, however, lost her confidence again and considered retirement after Nitya suffered from a knee injury that required surgery and cut short her career. This came after the pair failed to win in the quarter-finals during the 2016 Rio Olympics. At that time, Greysia lamented that the 2016 Rio Olympics might be her last Olympics.
At the end, Greysia opted to stay at the Pelatnas after Eng Hian requested her to help her juniors. The junior players were paired with Greysia. Greysia was paired with Rosyita Eka Putri Sari, followed by Rizki Amelia Pradipta in early 2017, until finally she was paired with Apriyani Rahayu who was then just only graduated from her junior status.
The pair had their first match in the Sudirman Cup mixed team badminton tournament back in May 2017 in New Zealand. They debuted as well during the Thailand Open and successfully secured victory. “At that time, I realized that I must continue playing for four more years,” said Greysia.
Mental toughness
For Apryiani, her victory in the Thailand Open, during which she was only 19 years old, has increased her popularity. On one occasion Eng Hian talked about his responsibility to protect Apriyani as a rising star.
“Those who had previously steered clear from her approached her again after her victory. Many asked her to hang out, even during training sessions. This forced me to protect Apriyani. Otherwise, numerous obstacles would have disturbed her discipline,” said Eng Hian.
AP PHOTO/DITA ALANGKARA
Indonesia\'s Greysia Polii, right, and Apriyani Rahayu celebrate after defeating China\'s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan during their women\'s doubles gold medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Imelda Wigoeno, daily chairwoman of Greysia/Apriyani’s badminton club PB Jaya Raya, Eng Hian contacted her to offer his experience and train Apriyani. “Greysia always helps Apriyani as well, especially since Apriyani’s potential has become apparent even since her junior years,” said Imelda.
During her junior years, Apriyani, together with Rosyita, was a finalist at the 2014 World Junior Championships. She also won several matches in women’s doubles and mixed doubles together with, among others, Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto and Rinov Rivaldy. Jauza, the son of Icuk Sugiarto, had been Apriyani’s partner after she joined Icuk’s PB Pelita badminton club.
In the eyes of Greysia and Eng Hian, Apriyani is an individual with mental toughness who does not fear any challenges. She did not back down when the offer to pair with Greysia put her under a lot of training and pressure, a much tougher experience compared to her junior years.
I learn to be more mature, to get out of my comfort zone. I used to be a person who did not want to be told what to do. Greysia has helped me to become more mature in the way I think and in my conduct.
Her everyday life has helped build her strong character. Apriyani, the youngest of three, was born into a humble family in Lawulo, Konawe, Southeast Tenggara.
Apriyani recalled how her father often borrowed some money in order to pay for his daughter’s badminton matches. Apriyani’s ambition to become a badminton player has always been strong.
Her passion for badminton started with her hobby of watching badminton matches on TV. Starting with playing badminton in her house yard using a racquet made from a piece of board, Apriyani’s skills were further honed by a coach named Sapiuddin. A number of achievements at the regional level brought her to Jakarta to join PB Pelita in 2011, before she moved to Jaya Raya and finally the Pelatnas.
Apriyani dedicated her gold medal to her parents, her family and all of the coaches that have trained her since a young age. She remembered all of the lessons that she learned while partnering with Greysia. “I learn to be more mature, to get out of my comfort zone. I used to be a person who did not want to be told what to do. Greysia has helped me to become more mature in the way I think and in my conduct. Alhamdulillah (thank God) we could do all of this,” said Apriyani.
Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu
Achievements:
· Champion of the 2017 Thailand Open
· Champion of the 2017 France Open
· Champion of the 2018 India Open
· Champion of the 2018 Thailand Open
· Bronze medal in the 2018 Asian Games
· Champion of the 2019 India Open
· Champion of the 2020 Indonesia Masters
· Champion of the 2020 Spain Masters
· Champion of the 2021 Thailand Open
This article was translated by Astria Zahra Nabila
