Splitting the focus of the Thomas-Uber Cup and the Olympics
Apart from the Olympics, Indonesia must compete in the Thomas and Uber Cup events. The competition will not be easy from the group phase.
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The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Membagi Fokus Piala Thomas-Uber Dan Olimpiade
Results of the 2024 Thomas Cup draw in Chengdu, China, on Friday (22/3/2024).
CHENGDU, FRIDAY - Even though they have different time frames, the Olympics and team championships Thomas Cup and Uber are held in the same year in even-numbered years. Indonesian badminton athletes must also divide their focus on these two big events in 2024.
The Olympics, which will take place in Paris, France, on July 26 - August 11, will be the most anticipated event in 2024. Moreover, this multi-branch event is only held every four years. In order to have as many representatives as possible, the "Merah Putih" badminton athletes are still undergoing qualifications which will take place from May 1, 2023 to April 28, 2024.
Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana and Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari, in fact, are still looking for additional points to open up opportunities to qualify for Paris 2024. After competing in Europe for three to five consecutive weeks during March, they will have their final competition in the Asian Championship in Ningbo, China, on April 9-14.
After that, players who qualify based on the April 30th ranking can focus on preparing themselves for Paris while participating in the BWF World Tour tournament, especially those with mandatory tournament status. Before the Olympics, the Indonesian badminton squad will also face a prestigious event, the Thomas and Uber Cup men's and women's team championships, in Chengdu, China, from April 27th to May 5th.
Also read: Motivation is the Key for Rinov/Pitha
Results of the 2024 Uber Cup draw in Chengdu, China, on Friday (22/3/2024).
Based on the draw held in Chengdu on Friday (22/3/2024), the Indonesian Thomas Cup team joined India, Thailand and England in Group C in the preliminary phase. The Uber Cup teams will compete against Japan, Hong Kong and Uganda, too, in Group C.
The 33rd edition of the Thomas Cup and the 30th edition of the Uber Cup are held every two years, respectively, with 16 teams divided into four groups. In the preliminary phase, they competed in a round robin format to compete for the top two places as a condition for qualifying for the quarter-finals.
The Indonesian Thomas Cup team has made it to the final three times in the past four editions. In 2016 and 2022, Indonesia lost to Denmark and India respectively, with the latter winning the Thomas Cup for the first time.
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and his team won the Thomas Cup 2020 title, which was postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, after defeating China 3-0 in the final. This is Indonesia's first Thomas Cup title in 19 years.
Also read: Don't hit the brakes yet, Fajar/Rian
I think Indonesia is still ahead based on head to head calculations for five parties.
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Senior player Hendra Setiawan (third from the left), captain of the Indonesian Thomas Cup team, and doubles coach Herry IP, lifted the Thomas Cup at the winner's tribute ceremony of the 2020 Thomas Cup in Ceres Arena, Aarhus, Denmark, on Sunday (17/10/2021). Indonesia became the Thomas Cup champion after defeating China, 3-0.
Meanwhile, the journey of the Indonesian Uber Cup team has always ended in the quarterfinals in the last six editions. The better result, which is the semifinals, was last achieved by Maria Febe Kusumastuti and her colleagues in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2010.
In Chengdu, the Indonesian men's team will face tough competition in the group phase. India is the defending champion team with strong capabilities in both singles and doubles events. Thailand and England cannot be taken lightly either, with their strong men's doubles players.
Head of the PP PBSI Achievement Development Division, Ricky Soebagdja, assessed that the competition in the Thomas and Uber Cups is not easy because the strengths are evenly distributed, especially in the competition in the men's section. “The strength of the four men's teams (in Group C) is evenly distributed. "Nevertheless, I think Indonesia is still ahead based on head to head calculations for five parties," said Ricky.
For the women's team, the key to qualifying as one of the top two teams is the match against Hong Kong. Japan, which has Akane Yamaguchi and three women's doubles in the top ten world rankings, is a formidable opponent for Indonesia.
Also read: The discipline of training and prayer, led Jonatan Christie to win the All England title
Indonesian badminton player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung's solo action against Japan's Akane Yamaguchi during the quarterfinals of the All England tournament at Arena Birmingham, England on Friday (15/3/2024). Gregoria lost with a score of 10-21, 22-20, 18-21.
Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and her team can utilize the match against Uganda to achieve a victory with as much point difference as possible. This is because every score will be crucial in determining their position in the standings.
Ricky emphasized the need for thorough preparation for the Thomas and Uber Cup, especially to ensure that no athlete gets injured. He also hopes that every athlete has a strong fighting spirit.
"The success at All England should become the momentum for the revival of the Thomas Indonesian team. All players must have great confidence and motivation to give their best abilities," said Ricky referring to the men's singles and men's doubles champion titles at All England.
Men's doubles final tickets
From the Swiss Open tournament in Basel, the men's doubles ensured that they would get a ticket to the final with a semi-final between Indonesian players. Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana will face a training friend at the Cipayung badminton national training ground, Jakarta, Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin.
Also read: Highs and Lows in All England from Time to Time
Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana progressed to the second round of the All England tournament at the Arena Birmingham, England. In the first round on Tuesday (12/3/2024), they defeated Alexander Dunn/Adam Hall (Scotland) with a score of 21-18, 21-16.
Fikri/Bagas, who have the opportunity to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeated Supak Jumkoh/Kittinupong Kedren with a score of 21-19, 21-11 in the quarterfinals on Friday. Meanwhile, Leo/Daniel had to compete more fiercely when facing Man Wei Chong/Kai Wun Tee and won 21-14, 23-21.
The victory of Fikri/Bagas and Leo/Daniel is supplemented by the victory of Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Isfahani over Choong Hon Jian/Muhammad Haikal 21-16, 22-20. Thus, Indonesia's men's doubles placed three representatives in the semifinals.
Before embarking on their tour of Europe from the French Open, 5-10 March, both Indonesian pairs had an equal opportunity to secure one more men's doubles Olympic ticket, which had already been obtained by Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto. To accompany their seniors in competing in Paris, at least two Indonesian pairs must rank in the top eight at the end of the qualifying rounds.
However, after participating in the French Open and All England, Leo/Daniel's chances are closed as they always lost in the first round of both tournaments. The competition to qualify for Paris with other national men's doubles pairs is now only left with Fikri/Bagas.
Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti defeated the Indian pair, Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, in the first round of the All England tournament. In the match held at Arena Birmingham, England, on Tuesday (March 12, 2024), Apriyani/Fadia won with scores of 21-18, 21-12.
Reputable news media agency rules prevent the translation of certain words, such as PBB, PKS, and PPP. Therefore, no information can be provided on the original article beyond the fact that it discusses Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti's victory over a French pair to secure a spot in the semi-finals of an unspecified tournament. The article also mentions the possibility of an all-Indonesian semi-final if Apriyani/Fadia face Lanny Tria Mayasari/Ribka Sugiarto, provided that the latter pair defeat Rui Hirokami/Yuna Kato of Japan first.
In women's singles, Gregoria will also compete in the semifinals. The eighth-ranked women's singles player in the world won against Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-13, 21-13.
