Indonesian Sports Kaleidoscope 2020: There Are Achievements Behind The Sting Of COVID-19

Marcus Fernaldi Gideon / Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (Photo: PBSI)

JAKARTA - Since the existence of COVID-19 was recognized by the Jokowi government in March 2020, too many sad stories have occurred in this country. Some of them are in the world of sports.

However, so that the pain does not increase, we better discuss the achievements achieved by Indonesian athletes in the midst of the pandemic.

In a thread on his Twitter account, Jawapos sports editor, Ainur Rohman, described a number of achievements achieved by a number of Indonesian athletes amid the chaotic schedule of world sports.

From badminton, Anthony Ginting won the BWF Tour via the Indonesia Masters 2020 champion for the first time since becoming the champion of the 2018 China Open. With this achievement, Ginting's position in the world ranking was boosted to 5th place.

Then there was Marcus Fernaldi Gideon / Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo who scored a hat trick for the 2020 Indonesia Masters champion. In the top party, Minions beat Hendra / Ahsan following the withdrawal of Japan's two best men's doubles at this event.

Meanwhile at the Asian Men's Team Championship. Indonesia successfully won three consecutive titles after in the final, the impromptu double Fajar Alfian / Mohammad Ahsan became the determinant of Indonesia's victory over Malaysia with a score of 3-1.

At the All England event, Praveen Jordan / Melati Daeva Oktavianti were the best. Praveen was even listed as the first XD player in Indonesian history to win the All England with two different partners.

Now we turn to tennis. Tennis player Christopher Rungkat became the first Indonesian male player to win the ATP Tour class. Paired with Andre Goransson (Sweden), they won the Maharashtra Open 2020 even though they were not seeded.

Then there is the name Priska Madelyn Nugroho who excels in the grand slam event. Paired with Alexandra Eala from the Philippines, this 17-year-old tennis player managed to become the best at the Australian Open Junior.

Not only the champion of the Australian Open, Priska was also nominated in the Fed Cup Heart Awards for her impressive performance while strengthening the Indonesian Fed Cup team in Group 1 Asia / Oceania 2020.

Meanwhile, from the weightlifting sport, the Indonesian young men's national team of weightlifting successfully became the overall champion of the 2020 Youth World Championship. Indonesia won 5 gold and 1 silver, becoming number 1 out of 32 participating countries.

Then there is the name Muhammad Faathir who performed brilliantly at the 2020 Virtual Youth World Championship in Lima, Peru. Recording a total force of 263 kg, Faathir won two gold from the total force and clean and jerk.

Not to forget also 17 year lifter Rizki Juniansyah. He wiped three gold medals at the same championship while sharpening three world youth records in the 73 kg class.

In another sport, a climber from Surabaya, Rahmad Adi Mulyono, won the IFSC Connected Speed Knockout 2020 champion. He defeated 50 climber from 9 countries.

Climber from Surabaya Rahmad Adi Mulyono won the IFSC Connected Speed Knockout 2020. He defeated 50 climber from 9 countries. In the quarter-finals, Rahmad defeated the world champion from Russia Vladislav Deulin. This is Rahmad's action in the final.pic.twitter.com/gZTYMqXFWI

- A. Ainur Rohman (@ainurohman) December 30, 2020

Then the volleyball national team star Rivan Nurmulki who entered the top scorer list in the top division of the Japanese League, V.League 1. Rivan impressed with the Nagano Tridents team where he only lost to Japanese star Yuji Nishida and Polish star Bartosz Kurek.

There is always wisdom behind disaster. These athletes prove that the COVID-19 pandemic has not made them weak. The complicated conditions did not make them give up. Hopefully next year the world will be bright again and sports will be excited again.

Goodbye 2020.