Unforgettable Sports Moments In 2019

Illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Various sporting events in Indonesia during 2019 have always been the topic of public discussion. There are many moments that happen, from those that make you proud to those that make you disappointed. However, whatever the final outcome of these competitions, as Indonesian citizens we should support Indonesian athletes. Especially in 2020, Indonesia will participate in the most prestigious sports party in 2020, namely the 2020 Olympics which will be held in Tokyo, Japan. The following sports moments throughout 2019 are compiled from various sources.

Indonesia U-22 Champion AFF 2019

In February 2019, Indonesia won the 2019 U-22 AFF Cup after beating Thailand 2-1 in a tense final at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Cambodia. Quoted from Xinhua, the match was quite tight until the first half ended goalless. But Thailand managed to take the lead in the 58th minute thanks to a goal from Filter Promsupa.

Not to be outdone, Indonesia then equalized one minute later from midfielder Sani Riski and forward Osvaldo Haay in the 64th minute. Indonesia's victory has also become history because it managed to break Thailand's record as the defending champion in this tournament.

Thank you for every prayer, and effort that has been given. AFF U-22 Cup 2019, we are unbeatable! Thank you, Garuda Muda! Indonesia party! #PSSINow #KitaGaruda pic.twitter.com/8Rylce25C0

- PSSI (@PSSI) February 26, 2019

Hendra Sentiawan-Mohammad Ahsan won 3 prestigious titles

After successfully winning the final of the 2019 BWF World Championship which was held in China on December 15, 2019, Indonesian Men's Doubles Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan broke the world record as the men's doubles pair who won 3 prestigious titles at once in the same year.

Previously, The Daddies - nicknamed Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan - also won the 2019 All England at Birmihgam, England and the 2019 World Badminton Championship in Switzerland. The Daddies is now ranked second in the world. The first rank in the world is also occupied by the men's doubles pair from Indonesia, Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya.

"Certainly grateful and happy, this year is really extraordinary for us. This is the title of the end of the year which is extraordinary. But after this, we have to be better prepared for next year. And that is what we think is more important, "said Hendra Setiawan, quoted from the PBSI website.

Ahsan and Setiawan setting new records! Three times now they have won the season-ending championships and the world championships in the same year. # HSBCBWFbadminton # HSBCWTFinals2019 # Guangzhou2019 pic.twitter.com/Gy4qIdmSbx

- BWF (@bwfmedia) December 17, 2019

This achievement certainly makes Indonesia proud. Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan are the only men's doubles pair in badminton history who were able to win 3 prestigious titles in the same year.

However, The Daddies admitted that the BWF final was quite difficult because their opponent was the men's doubles pair from Japan, Hiroyuki Endo-Yuta Watanabe, because they felt they were more daring and made the doubles pair from Indonesia left behind. But even so, Indonesia was able to catch up and finally yielded sweet results. This sweet achievement is also expected to happen again at the 2020 Olympics.

This year's historic BWF World Tour Final in China ended with a victory from Indonesia's Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, aka. The Daddies. Find more highlights on the doubles action: https://t.co/mRKB8kRiYj#HSBCBWFbadminton @bwfmedia @BadmintonTalk pic.twitter.com/RzxiJ0tkqJ

- Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) December 15, 2019

The implementation of the 2019 SEA Games is considered a failure

The SEA Games is one of the most prestigious sports championships in Southeast Asia. However, this time, the SEA Games which was held in the Philippines were considered disappointing. The preparations for the SEA Games looked immature. Starting from an improper athlete pick up, made Timor Leste athletes wait up to 3 hours. Not to mention the thirsty Vietnamese national team sleeping in a room without a mattress.

Not only that, the media crew also felt the impact of this lack of preparation. The media center provided by the organizers looks like it hasn't been completed yet. The walls that have not been painted, and the chairs provided are plastic chairs which are far from appropriate. Athletes also have problems with eating.

For example, only kikiam is provided for breakfast, a typical Filipino snack that is not nutritious and not good for athletes who need additional stamina. The lack of halal food has made athletes from Indonesia accidentally consume non-halal food that the organizers did not inform.

Even though the Philippines has not only hosted the SEA Games once. Previously in 1981, 1991 and 2005, the Philippines also hosted the SEA Games. The 2019 SEA Games are the worst in the history of the sporting event. Filipinos also question how the preparations cost up to nearly US $ 984,000 but the results fall short of international standards.

Filipino Surfers Save Indonesian Surfers

Aside from being messy, the 2019 SEA Games are also filled with stories that inspire many people. Philippine surfer Roger Casugay was willing to give up the chance to get gold when he found out that his opponent, Indonesian surfer, Arip Nurhidayat, had drowned in a big wave. The rope that tied Arip to the surfboard was untied. Roger Casugay saves Arip and takes Arip by surfing his board.

"We have a brotherhood in surfing. If someone needs help, you will help him. I do not think about the victory and the relief that we both survived. We were very happy when we got to the beach," said Casugay, quoted by CNN.

Roger Casugay then received an award as 'Fair Play Athlete' because of this heroic action. Casugay has also received praise from all over the world for his heroic nature, especially Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"Winning competitions and upholding sportsmanship are important, but humanity above all else. My appreciation to Roger Casugay, the Filipino surfer who gave up the opportunity to win gold to help Indonesian athletes who fell in the race. Greetings from Indonesia," Jokowi said via his official Twitter account.

Winning competitions and upholding sportsmanship are important, but humanity above all else. My appreciation to Roger Casugay, the Filipino surfer who gave up the chance to win gold in order to help Indonesian athletes who fell in the race. Greetings from Indonesia. pic.twitter.com/5c5CJoccCQ

- Joko Widodo (@jokowi) December 9, 2019

U-22 national football team failed to meet the target

After winning the 2019 AFF, the U-22 Indonesian national soccer team is also expected to win at the SEA Games. This hope is not excessive considering that the last time Indonesian football won the SEA Games gold was 28 years ago, to be precise 1991.

Expectations for the gold achievement will be even higher when the Indonesian national team has successfully entered the 2019 SEA Games soccer final against Vietnam. In the 39th minute, Vietnam managed to score the first goal made by Do Hung Dung. Vietnam then made it 2-0 in the 59th minute. Vietnamese player Doan Van Hau scored a goal in the 70th minute. Indonesia lost without successfully breaking into Vietnam's goal, as well as eliminating hopes of getting a gold medal for Indonesia.

Quoted from the Straits Times, Vietnam currently ranks 94th in the FIFA world rankings, while Indonesia is in 173rd.