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Gregoria carries weight of nation at Indonesia Open
Indonesia’s women’s badminton singles squad has suffered from years of stagnation, with players rarely blossoming at the international level, including at the #BlibliIndonesiaOpen2019.
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Last defense: Indonesian men’s doubles pair Fajar Alfian and Rian Ardianto (back) play against China’s Huang Kai Diang and Liu Cheng during a Blibli Indonesia Open round of 32 match at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Jakarta on Wednesday. Fajar and Rian won 18-21, 21-14, 21-16. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
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ndonesia’s women’s badminton singles squad has suffered from years of stagnation, with players rarely blossoming at the international level, including at the Blibli Indonesia Open.
The host country last won the tournament’s women’s singles title almost two decades ago when Ellen Angelina took the crown in 2001.
However, with legend Susy Susanti installed as the Indonesian Badminton Association’s (PBSI) head of development and achievement, the country has high expectations its title drought can be ended.
Susy, who earned the job in 2016, has seemed lost for words when discussing the state of the country’s women’s singles squad. She has often repeated her apparent go-to-answer, which has become something of a cliché.
“Honestly, we have to admit that our national women’s singles players really need to work extra hard [to catch up to players from other countries]. The current player with the highest ranking is Gregoria Mariska, who is [followed by] Fitriani and Ruselli [Hartawan],” Susy, the 1992 Barcelona Olympics women’s singles gold medalist, said recently.
“In the Indonesia Open, Gregoria has the best chance to advance [to the second round] and now it depends on how strong her will is to fight,” she added.
As expected, the 2017 World Junior Championship winner Gregoria has reached the second round, where she will play former world number one Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand on Thursday.
