Jonatan Christie (Courtesy of PBSI)

Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie is the country’s last hope for gold in badminton at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Young star Jonatan outclassed Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh 21-11, 21-16 in Monday’s semifinals.

Meanwhile, Ihsan Maulana Mustofa failed to join Jonatan after losing 21-10, 21-23 to Thailand’s Khosit Phetpradab.

“In the final, I really wanted to beat Khosit, as I did so in the men’s team event,” said Jonatan, who led the Indonesian men’s team to gold after defeating archrival Malaysia 3-0 on Thursday.

“[The Thai] shots are mostly shocking and deadly. He’s also confident with his netting skills,” he added.

Indonesia outclassed Thailand 3-1 in the men’s team semifinals, where opener Jonatan contributed a winning point after beating Phetpradab 21-6, 21-18.

In Monday’s invidividual event semifinals, Jonatan said his flawless observation of Minh’s playing style had helped him win the match.

“I know [Minh]. His shots tend to be out whenever he plays in a court with a drift, so I just waited patiently at the back. I also felt like I was more powerful than him, because I’m younger,” added the 19-year-old.

Having only Jonatan in the finals means that the Indonesian badminton contingent has failed to meet its three golds
target.

Prior to the Games, the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) aimed at winning three gold medals in the men’s doubles, mixed doubles and women’s doubles tournaments.

Indonesian badminton team manager Susy Susanti said that falling short of the three gold medals target would result in the PBSI conducting an evaluation.

“We’ve missed the target of winning three golds at the Games. We will further evaluate the errors. Shuttlers should not have lost focus in such an important competition,” Susy, the association’s head of development, told the press after the semifinal matches on Monday.

Except for Jonatan, the other favorites for gold stumbled in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Ihsan blames himself for failing to stay relaxed during the bout.

“I don’t know why. In the second game I also threw away points so easily. I’m dissapointed that I wasn’t able to deliver. I hope Jonatan can bring a gold medal home,” said the 21-year-old Ihsan.

In the women’s singles, non-seeded Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who opened the competition confidently after upsetting top seed Busanan Ongbumrungphan from Thailand, was stopped in the semifinals. Gregoria lost 22-20, 21-13 to Malaysia’s Sonia Cheah Su Ya.

“I’m really upset with [Monday’s] result. I led in the first game, but failed to keep up the tempo. I got all mentally beaten up in the second game because my opponent attained the necessary confidence. I’m grateful for the bronze, but I do feel upset with the result. Hopefully I can take some revenge at the next Games,” said the 18-year-old athlete.

Meanwhile, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto in the men’s doubles ruined the country’s golden dreams after losing 21-17, 23-21 in the semis.

Those who lost in the Games’ semifinals earned bronze medals.

The women’s doubles outfits exited even earlier, in the first round.

Dinar Dyah Ayustine and Hanna Ramadini as well as Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu were ousted by Malaysia’s Chow Mei Kuan and Lee Meng Yean and Thailand’s Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, respectively.

In the mixed doubles, Edi Subaktiar and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja had to quit in the first round following Edi’s injury.

Another pair, Hafiz Faisal and Shella Devi Aulia were halted by Thailand’s Bodin Isara and Savitree Amitrapai in the quarterfinals.

On Tuesday, the Games will see all-Malaysian and all-Thai finals, respectively, in women’s singles and women’s doubles categories.

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