Kaleidoscope 2024: Badminton Not Bersinar

JAKARTA The achievements of Indonesian badminton athletes during 2024 are not very flashy. However, there are a number of prestigious titles that have been successfully brought back to the country.

The best success is two titles in All England. Unfortunately, in the closing tournament of the BWF World Tour Finals season, Indonesian representatives returned empty-handed.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, badminton also didn't talk much. The only medal that was successfully brought home was bronze. This achievement was obtained by women's singles athlete Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.

The following is Indonesia's badminton achievement throughout 2024.

Indonesia Masters (Super 500)

Indonesian representatives who were seeded in this event have started to fall since the early stages. One of them is the mainstay men's singles and defending champion Jonatan Christie.

Luckily, the pair Leo Rolly Carnando / Daniel Marthin were able to save the host's face. This men's doubles successfully came out as champions at Istora while defending their title.

All England (Super 1000)

Indonesia brought home two titles from the oldest event in the world. One from the men's singles Jonatan Christie and the other from the men's doubles pair Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto.

Jonathan ended his men's singles title fast at the event, which has been going on for 30 years since Hariyanto Arbi 1994, defeating compatriot Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.

On the other hand, Fajar/Rian managed to defend their title there after stopping the Malaysian pair, Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik. This is the third year that Indonesia's men's doubles has dominated the event.

Before Fajar/Rian won the last two editions, the Indonesian men's doubles climbed the highest podium through the pair Bagas Maulana/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri who defeated their senior Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan.

Orleans Masters (Super 300)

Three Indonesian representatives penetrated the final round of this event, namely Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari, and Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari/Rachel Alllessya Rose.

However, only the women's doubles pair Meilysa/Rachel managed to come out as champions. They brought home the title after beating the Japanese representative, Rui Hirokami/Yuna Kato.

Swiss Open (Super 300)

A week later, Indonesia again had three representatives in the Swiss Open final. However, only one title was successfully brought home, namely from the women's doubles Lanny Tria Mayasari/Ribka Sugiarto.

Two other representatives who broke into the final were Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and Bagas Maulana/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri.

Gregoria was then beaten by Carolina Marin and Bagas/Fikri by Ben Lane/Sean Vendy.

Spain Masters (Super 300)

Still in the same month, March 2024, Indonesia again sent three representatives to the final round at the Centro Deportivo Municipal Gallu. However, this time only Febriana Dwi Puji Kusuma/Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi failed.

Two other couples finished their journey sweetly in this event, namely the men's doubles Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani and the mixed doubles Rinov Rivaldy Pitha Haningtyas Mentari.

Australian Open (Super 500)

Indonesia kemudian kembali meraih gelar pada Juni 2024 setelah melewatkan Mei 2024 tanpa trofi meskipun ada dua kesempatan final yang diperoleh, masing-masing di Thailand dan Singapura Open.

The title from Australia was secured by the women's doubles pair Febriana Dwi Puji Kusuma/Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi. They stopped the Malaysian pair, Lai Pei Jing/Lim Chiew Sien.

Women's singles Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo and men's doubles Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan also reached the final round of this tournament, but their journey ended as runners-up.

Kaohsiung Masters (Super 100)

From this tournament, Indonesia secured one title through the women's doubles pair Jesita Putri Miantoro/Febi Setianingrum. Sung Shuo Yun/Yu Chien Hui from China Taipei became a victim of Jesita/Febi in the final.

Korea Masters (Super 500)

PBSI decided to reshuffle the Bagas Maulana/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin ahead of this tournament. Bagas is partnered with Leo and Fikri with Daniel.

The new composition played their first tournament at the Japan Open, a week before continuing their journey to the Korea Masters. The results were immediately seen, Leo/Bagas managed to come out as champions in Korea.

Indonesia Masters Super 100 I (Super 100)

Indonesia appeared dominant in front of its own supporters and managed to send six representatives to the final. Two of the sectors included the All Indonesia Finals, namely men's singles and mixed doubles.

As a result, three titles were brought home by Indonesia. Two titles from the All Indonesia Final were secured by Zaki Ubaidillah who defeated Alwi Farhan and Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Pasaribu who silenced Adnan Maulana/Indah Cahya Sari Jamil.

The other title was secured by Jesita Putri Miantoro/Febi Setianingrum. The women's doubles pair beat Japan's Mizuki Orange/Miyu Takahashi.

China Taipei Open (Super 300)

Putri Kusuma Wardani, Febriana Dwi Puji Kusuma/Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi, and Febi Setianingrum/Jesita Putri Miantoro are three Indonesian representatives who reached the final in this event.

However, there was only one title that was successfully secured. Febriana/Amallia managed to climb the highest podium of Taipei Arena after defeating their compatriot Febi/Jesita.

Vietnam Open (Super 100)

Adnan Maulana/Indah Cahya Sari Jamil finally treated their wounds that occurred at the Indonesia Masters 100. This pair won here after beating their compatriot, Zaidan Arrafi Awal Nabawi/Jessica Maya Rismawardani.

Men's doubles pair Patra Harapan Rindorindo/Raymond Indra also set foot in the final. However, they must recognize the superiority of the Huang Jui Hsuan/He Zhi Wei pair from China Taipei.

Indonesia Masters 100 II (Super 100)

A total of seven Indonesian representatives successfully reached the final round of the event which took place in Surabaya. The men's doubles and mixed doubles sector also scored the All Indonesia Final.

The two All Indonesia Finals were won by Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah and Rahmat Hidayat/Yeremia Rambitan. The other two titles were pocketed by Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi and Alwi Farhan.

Korea Masters (Super 300)

Indonesian women's singles Putri Kusuma Wardani became Indonesia's first badminton player to become the champion at the Korea Masters event. She won this event after defeating Han Qianxi (China) in the final.

Dejan Ferdinansyah/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja also reached the final round. Unfortunately, their struggle ran aground against the mixed doubles from China, Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui.

Japan Masters (Super 500)

In this event, Indonesia won the title through Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto. They won after winning the rubber game against the host pair Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi, 21-15, 17-21, and 21-17.

This is the first title for Fajar/Rian since winning the All England 2024 in March 2024. Fajar/Rian also won the Japanese Masters titled Super 500 BWF for the first time.

Gregoria Mariska Tunjung is also in the final. However, the 2017 junior world champion failed to defend his title in the new two editions.

2024 Paris Olympics

Badminton departs for France with the target of maintaining the gold medal tradition in the most prestigious event in this sport. Unfortunately, this target was not achieved.

However, one bronze medal was successfully secured by Gregoria. He completed the achievements of the two gold medals won by Veddriq Leonardo and Rizki Juniansyah, respectively.