Malaysia Open 2024: Gregoria Mariska Wins Dramatically To Win Second Round Tickets

JAKARTA The women's singles badminton player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung dramatically qualified for the second round of the Malaysia Open 2024.

The 24-year-old athlete came from defeat in the first game to stop Natek Nidaira (Japan) with a score of 20-22, 21-18, and 21-14 at the Axiata Arena, Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

This result can certainly keep Gregoria's hopes of appearing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Moreover, she is the only Indonesian women's singles who have the potential to appear in the four-yearly largest event.

Gregoria is currently in seventh place in BWF. To qualify for Paris, he must keep his position from leaving the top eight.

"Certainly because this year is an important year, the year is the Olympics. My motivation to prove to myself is definitely more," said Gregoria after the match.

"Seeing my performance in the previous year which was quite good, I didn't want to just get there. So, I want to bring more work, but calmly and relaxed," he said.

Gregoria is now leading a record win-loss over the Japanese representative 2-0. Their only previous meeting took place at the 2016 Asian Junior Championship.

Gregoria's success made Indonesia have a total of six representatives in the second half. This badminton player from Wonogiri followed two of his colleagues who also qualified for the second round today.

The previous two tickets on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, were secured by men's doubles Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan and mixed doubles Dejan Ferdinansyah Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja.

Meanwhile, three other tickets were obtained by Indonesia on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, through Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, and Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati.

The five Indonesian representatives who were confirmed to be eliminated were Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin, Jonatan Christie, Putri Kusuma Wardani, Bagas Maulana/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, and Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari.