Feeling Optimistic That His Son Won, Apriyani Rahayu's Father: I Don't Feel Nervous

JAKARTA - Amiruddin Pora, the father of women's doubles badminton player Apriyani Rahayu, is already optimistic that his son will win the final match of the women's doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics against the Chinese pair, Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan.

"Before playing, I was sure that the pair Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu would win by a landslide. I didn't feel nervous when this pair took to the field," said Amiruddin Pora when contacted by Antara, Monday, August 2.

Apriyani Rahayu and her partner Greysia Polii won the gold medal in the women's doubles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after winning in straight sets over the Chinese pair Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan 21-19, 21-15.

"Once again I don't feel nervous or worried when they take to the field because they're used to it. So it doesn't have any effect on playing in the Olympics or other championships," he said.

He said that he watched it together at his house with the residents, as soon as the Indonesian women's doubles won, the noise immediately exploded. "It's like this house is going to break down," said Amiruddin.

Apriyani Rahayu, the fourth child of the couple Amirrudin Pora and Siti Jauhar (deceased) is a resident of Lawulo Village, Anggaberi District, Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. Apriyani, who was born on April 29, 1998, is the youngest child and the only sister of the Amiruddin-Siti Jauhar couple.

Apriyani Rahayu first joined PB Pelita Bakri on September 3, 2011 when former badminton world champion Icuk Sugiarto became chairman of PBSI DKI Jakarta and then finally moved to PB Jayaraya Jakarta until now.

When asked if Apriyani had time to return home before appearing in the Tokyo Olympics, Amiruddin said that a week before appearing in the Olympics, his son had returned to visit his mother's grave.

He recounted that when he appeared at a badminton championship in Lima, Peru, on November 10, 2015, and when he entered the field to compete, he was asked to leave because there was news that his mother had died. But Apriyani continued the match and thank God she won in Peru.

Touching on his hopes after winning a gold medal at the Olympics, he said that his son would still be able to emerge as a champion at international events.

Since badminton was first played at the Olympics in 1992, this is the first time the women's doubles event has won a gold medal. In 1992, badminton contributed two gold from Susi Susanti and Alan Budikusuma, then the 1996 Olympics pair Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky (men's doubles) won gold.

Then at the 2000 Olympics, the Chandra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan pair (men's doubles) won a gold medal, then at the 2004 Olympics Taufik Hidayat won a gold medal, then the 2006 Olympics Hendra Setiawan/Markis Kido won gold, and the 2016 Olympics pair Tontowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir won gold in mixed doubles.