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RI walks with confidence to Sudirman Cup arena
Fighting spirit: Mohammad Ahsan (left), Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (second left), Kevin Sanjaya Sukomuljo (third left) and Shesar Hiren Rhustavito, among the members of the 2019 Sudirman Cup National team, attend a ceremony for the Indonesia Badminton Association’s (PBSI) 68th anniversary and the official introduction of the 2019 Sudirman Cup national team members at Hotel Century Athlete in Jakarta on Saturday
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F
ighting spirit: Mohammad Ahsan (left), Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (second left), Kevin Sanjaya Sukomuljo (third left) and Shesar Hiren Rhustavito, among the members of the 2019 Sudirman Cup National team, attend a ceremony for the Indonesia Badminton Association’s (PBSI) 68th anniversary and the official introduction of the 2019 Sudirman Cup national team members at Hotel Century Athlete in Jakarta on Saturday.(Courtesy of PBSI)
The fighting story of former national women’s shuttler Susy Susanti when she saved team Indonesia from defeat against South Korea in the final of the 1989 Sudirman Cup was the topic of the day during the celebration of the 68th anniversary of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) in Jakarta on Saturday.
PBSI chief Wiranto brought up the story first during his opening speech at the event, which also served as the announcement of the 20 athletes who will be deployed in the Sudirman Cup in Nanning, China, which will be held from May 19 to 26.
Susy’s story was special as it gave an important lesson to the shuttlers who will try to achieve badminton mixed team supremacy in Nanning. During the 1989 Sudirman Cup held in Jakarta, Susy was deployed in the third match against Lee Young-suk. At that time, Indonesia had lost the first two matches as its men’s singles’ and doubles’ failed to bag a win.
South Korea just needed one more point to secure the first Sudirman Cup title and the situation favored them as Lee was the favorite to win, as she had won the first game and just needed to secure one more point as she led the second game 10-7.
Susy, however, who later won the first Olympic gold medal in Barcelona, Spain, in 1992, for the country, turned the situation around by claiming the victory 10-12, 12-10 and 11-0 and opened the path for team Indonesia to clinch the first Sudirman Cup.
“I told the athletes about Susy’s fighting spirit so they could follow her lead in having a strong mentality despite her team being left behind. Moreover, the competition now is getting tighter,” said Wiranto, who is also the coordinating political, legal and security minister.
The Sudirman Cup is on the list of PBSI’s main targets this year besides triumphing at other events such as the All England and World Championship. Wiranto personally targeted that team Indonesia win the Sudirman Cup, along with the other two team events, the Thomas and Uber Cup, during his leadership of the association that will end in 2020.
Susy Susanty, who now serves as PBSI’s head of development and achievement, said the national squad was in its best form and ready to bring back the trophy, which the team has not won in 30 years. The team will depart for China on May 15.
“Preparations went well. We hope that the athletes will be fit [during the tournament],” said Susy, who also acts as team manager for the country’s Sudirman Cup contingent.
She went on to say the failure suffered by the team two years ago during the Sudirman Cup in the Gold Coast, Australia, had taught them not to be overconfident. The national squad was thrown out in the group round during the 2017 Sudirman Cup, its worst performance in the tournament.
“[We learned from] the experience. It teaches us in designing strategy for the team especially when deciding which players will be deployed, where it will be evaluated based on their readiness.”
“Don’t give up when we are left behind and don’t be careless when we are leading in the game,” she said.
Men’s doubles pair Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan were elected as captain and deputy captain of the Sudirman Cup national squad. PBSI secretary-general Achmad Budiharto said, aside from their seniority, Hendra and Ahsan were selected for their nontechnical skills like communication and setting the tone within the team to be more harmonious.
Women’s doubles player Greysia Polii, who will defend the team in Nanning, said she and the two juniors in the women’s doubles team, Apriani Rahayu and Ni Ketut Mahadewi Istarani, were ready to give their best for the country.
Greysia, who has just recovered from a hand injury, said she was ready to be paired with Ketut.
Indonesia was placed in Group B with Denmark and England. First seed Japan is the favorite to win the tournament as it has players in the top 5 of the world rankings in all five categories.
