Calls The IBF 2021 Training Zone Too Narrow, Jonatan Christie: Potentially Causes Athletes Overcrowding

Jonathan Christie (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - When met after the training session for the Indonesia Masters 2021 tournament, national men's singles badminton player Jonatan Christie assessed that the training arena at the Indonesia Badminton Festival (IBF) performance in Nusa Dua, Bali, still needed improvements to make it feel more comfortable.

According to the eighth-ranked athlete in the world, the most noticeable shortcoming is that the training space is not too wide, so it has the potential to cause a build-up of athletes during training sessions.

"There's not too much space. If you change players on the field quickly, it will definitely pile up inside," Jonatan said, as quoted by Antara, Friday.

It is known, the organizing committee provides a training arena built using tents and contains as many as four fields as training facilities for participants of the Indonesia Masters, Indonesia Open, and World Tour Finals which are part of the big agenda of the IBF 2021.

Responding to this, the 2018 Asian Games gold medal winner did not really mind the training ground being built in a temporary tent, but it would be better if the training area was placed in a permanent building.

"Regarding the training tent, it is indeed an effort by the organizing committee to outsmart the lack of location, yes, but it would be better if there was a separate building that was more comfortable. Especially at international events, many foreign athletes who came must hope to provide the best facilities," Jonatan said.

Even so, Jonatan also gave a thumbs up for the hard work of the committee who had brought back the splendor of world-class badminton competitions in the country which had previously been stopped due to the pandemic.

In addition to providing enthusiasm for the national badminton sport, this activity can also foster a positive image of Indonesian culture to foreign athletes who take part.

"In terms of technical implementation, it still needs a little improvement, yes, but this event is the best and most lively compared to the implementation in other countries. In other places no one can beat Indonesia," he said.

One of the international participants, namely Kento Momota seemed to enjoy the performance of the Kecak Dance which is a traditional Balinese dance by not forgetting to enjoy some authentic Indonesian food served by the committee in an area overlooking the sea.

According to the world number one men's singles badminton player, the event held in Bali this year was very good.

"This event is very good, the facilities are very good, and everything has been arranged impressively. I am happy to be participating in the tournament this time," said the badminton player from Japan.