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Top shuttlers to play in Indonesia Masters
We’re ready: Indonesia Masters 2019 organizing chief Achmad Budiharto (fourth right) and the Indonesian squad pose for a photograph following a presser on the event
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e’re ready: Indonesia Masters 2019 organizing chief Achmad Budiharto (fourth right) and the Indonesian squad pose for a photograph following a presser on the event. The Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2019 will be held at the Istora Senayan from Jan. 22 to 27 with more than 200 shuttlers from the world taking part.(Antara/Hafidz Mubarak)
Some 267 of the best shuttlers from around the world have registered to compete in the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2019, slated to be held at the Istora Senayan stadium from Jan. 22 to 27. Elite shuttlers like Kento Momota of Japan, Chen Long of Malaysia and Victor Axelsen of Denmark are among those registered.
Among the local players, defending champion men’s singles player Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and the “Minions” men’s doubles pair of Kevin Sanjaya Sukomuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, who won last year’s Indonesia Masters trophy, have committed to defend their title in this year championship.
The Kevin/Marcus pair have just won the recent 2019 Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, beating home pair of Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi 21-15, 21-16. They were the country’s only title winners from the first tournament this year.
The championship is registered under the BWF World Tour Super 500 with cash prizes totaling US$350,000.
Chief organizer Achmad Budiharto said they would go all out in preparing for the championship and therefore expected all players to bring their best to the tournament.
“This championship is a pivotal stage for our players to hone their skills and learn firsthand from the world’s best. The target is winning titles,” he said as quoted in a media statement sent to The Jakarta Post on Monday.
The home contingent will face severe competition from tough opponents like Japan and China. The latter is believed to have reached its peak performance after securing three titles from the BWF World Finals last year. China will deploy the largest contingent with 42 athletes in the championship.
Chief of the Badminton Federation of Indonesia (PBSI) Wiranto hoped massive energy from the spectators would boost the players during the championship.
“We mustn’t underestimate the power of our spectators, who have greatly supported our athletes throughout the tournament. I hope the athletes can make the best of it,” he said.
Head of PBSI sport and development Susy Susanti expects Indonesia to at least maintain the title in the men’s doubles category. Susy, 1992 Barcelona Olympics gold medalist, said the tournament could be used as a tool to measure the condition of all athletes, as they will be facing more tournaments this year.
“We are expecting surprises from this tournament. We hope that not only the men’s doubles will be victorious but also shuttlers in other categories,” said.
The Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu pair will also participate in tournament.
The women’s doubles pair reached the semifinals at the Malaysia Masters but were beaten by Japanese pair Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota 21-18, 16-21, 16-21. Commenting on their defeat, Greysia acknowledged that they were not ready to face their opponents in rubber sets.
“We need to work on our power, especially whenever we face rubber sets like this,” she said.
