Christopher Rungkat (JP/Seto Wardhana)

Thanks to Indonesia’s top tennis player Christopher Rungkat, the Red-and-White delegation at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games brought home a gold medal and a silver medal.

The world number 487 in men’s singles, and number 121 in doubles, was in the middle of his professional tour when he returned to Southeast Asia to compete for his country at the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Christopher, who won the Winnetka Challenger men’s doubles title in the United States last month with partner Sanchai Ratiwatana of Thailand, earned the first gold medal in tennis for Indonesia.

In the weekend’s finals, the second-seeded 27-year-old defeated fifth seed Thailand’s Jirat Navasirisomboon 6-4, 6-4 to bag the gold.

Christopher said he was confident about coming out as the Games’ champion after ousting Thailand’s Wishaya Throngcharoenchaikul 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(8) in the semifinals.

“I was pretty convinced that I would win the gold as soon as I defeated Wishaya,” said Christopher as quoted by Antara.

“Jirat played really well in the finals, but I could handle him — just like in two ITF tournaments in which we previously met,” added the holder of three gold medals — in men’s singles, mixed doubles and team – from the 2011 Games in Indonesia.

In mixed doubles at this year’s Games, Christopher was paired with Jessy Rompies, another Indonesian favorite.

The duo finished with a silver medal, failing to better their showing at the 2011 Games, where they also came out as silver medalists.

Christopher admitted that he struggled in mixed doubles, as he set a personal target to win the men’s singles title.

In the mixed doubles finals, Christopher and Jessy lost 6-1, 6-2 to Thailand’s Nicha Lertpitaksinchai and Ratiwatana.

Thailand dominated in tennis, winning four gold medals, two silver and three bronze.

Four of five of the remaining gold medals in the weekend’s finals were snatched by the Thais.

Popular

Troubled Board of Peace

Videographer demands justice as he faces graft trial over project pricing

Prabowo pledges 100 GW solar energy target within three years