In the Asia Team Championships final Indonesia defeated South Korea 3-1 in a duel that mostly featured reserve players.
By
YULIA SAPTHIANI
·3 minutes read
Humas PP PBSI
Indonesian women's players rejoiced after the second double, Nita Violina Marwah/Lany Tria Mayasari ensured Indonesia's victory over South Korea, 3-1, in the final of the Asian Team Badminton Championships in Selangor, Malaysia, Sunday (20/2/2022).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Winning the Badminton Asia Team Championships has quenched Indonesia’s thirst for a women’s team badminton title. This can be capital to boost the confidence of young players to elevate their skills and capacity.
The rare milestone was achieved by the Indonesian women’s team on Sunday (20/2/2022) at the Setia City Convention Center in Selangor, Malaysia. In the Asia Team Championships final Indonesia defeated South Korea 3-1 in a duel that mostly featured reserve players.
The recent badminton championships, which also serve as qualifiers for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Asia Zone, saw the participation of mostly reserve players from the competing countries, in seven women’s teams and eight men’s teams.
Only the Malaysian men’s team fielded its best athletes, with seventh-ranked Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, as well as world 17th-ranked men’s doubles pair, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin. These players helped Malaysia defeat Indonesia 3-0 in the final.
The Indonesian women’s team has found it difficult so far to penetrate the domination of China, Japan, South Korea, as well as Thailand.
After Indonesia’s triumph over South Korea, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and her peers celebrated with jubilation, although China, Thailand and Taiwan did not join the event. The Indonesian women’s team has found it difficult so far to penetrate the domination of China, Japan, South Korea, as well as Thailand.
The Asia Team Championship title is the first for the “Red and White” women’s team since the biennial championships in 2016. The last tournament at which the Indonesian women’s team emerged victorious was the 1996 Uber Cup.
Indonesia’s win against South Korea was secured by Gregoria, Putri Kusuma Wardani, and Lanny Tria Mayasari/Nita Violina Marwah. Meanwhile, the Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi doubles pair was defeated in the second round.
HUMAS PBSI
Nita Violina Marwah/Lanny Tria Mayasari Nita Violina Marwah/Lanny Tria Mayasari won over South Korean badminton players Kim Min-ji/Lee Seo-jin, 21-16, 22-20 at the Badminton Asia Championships, in Selangor, Malaysia, Thursday (17 /2/2022).
“We are proud and relieved. I could perform well along with Lanny and make Indonesia a champion,” Nita said after defeating Kim Min-ji/Park Minjeong 23-21, 21-11.
Team captain Gregoria led the team to victory after trouncing Sim Yu-jin 21-9, 21-10.
The world 27th-ranked player is the most experienced in the Indonesian women’s squad and is a principal player at the women’s singles training center. The other nine athletes were reserve players.
This title will therefore serve to boost their confidence in competing in individual tournaments. In the singles, Putri, 19, emerged as Indonesia’s player with the most potential after Gregoria.
However, ranking 76th in the world, Putri must earn many more points from World Badminton Federation (BWF) Super 100 tournaments or lower level tournaments.
Apriyani Rahayu will be paired with Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, who was originally paired with Ribka Sugiarto, while Ribka will be paired with Jesita Putri Miantoro.
The women’s doubles teams are being reorganized ahead of Greysia Polii’s retirement. Apriyani Rahayu will be paired with Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, who was originally paired with Ribka Sugiarto, while Ribka will be paired with Jesita Putri Miantoro.
At present, only three women’s doubles teams are counted among the world’s top 50: Greysia/Apriyani, Fadia/Ribka and Putri Syaikah/Nita. So, their coaches have their own targets for the players they manage.
“My target is to raise their level as soon as possible by scoring achievements in minor tournaments according to their [stage]. They have to start from tournaments of the challenge level, as they are outside the world’s [top] 100,” said women’s double coach Eng Hian. (IYA)
