Featured Athletes Fall On The Third Day Of The PBSI National Selection

Raynaldi Oktavianur Rizky/Ridya Aulia Fatasya (Central Java) mixed doubles pair (Photo: PBSI)

JAKARTA – This year's PBSI national selection gave many surprises. Athletes who fill the leading posts actually have to fall on the third day of the selection process.

The first bitter pill was felt by mixed doubles in the adult category, Fadilah Gahara Putra/Alivia Nadifah Salma. The second seed from West Java ran aground in the hands of the representatives of Central Java, M. Raynaldi Oktavianur Rizky/Ridya Aulia Fatasya in the rubber game 21-16, 15-21, 21-23.

"We haven't been playing well. As superior players, we are burdened, while the opponent plays more freely. Because we lost, we did not qualify for the next round," said Fadilah in an official statement received by VOI, Wednesday, January 12.

In the cadet women's singles number, fourth seed Shandy Tirani Mahesti from Central Java also gave up. He lost in straight sets, 16-21, 15-21, to the representative of Bali, Ni Putu Wahyu Arisanti.

Deputy DKI Jakarta, Belda Azaria, also felt defeat in the same number. The 11th seed was beaten by representatives of West Java, Raden Roro Widya Aninditya with the final score, 14-21, 21-15, 15-21.

In the cadets' singles, Muhammad Rizky Akbar also made a surprise. The East Java representative overcame the 14th seed from Central Java, Hendry Leander with the final result 21-12, 21-13.

"I'm happy because I was able to beat the top players. My capital was just playing more freely," said Rizky.

The journey of the first seed in the women's doubles number of cadets, Alya Ardelia/Ariella Naqiyyah also ran aground. This Jakarta deputy was tackled by Az-Zahra Putri Dania/Sherly Asti Pratiwi from West Java in a two-set match, 20-22, 15-21.

In the adult men's doubles, a surprise was also presented when the Gerardo Rizqullah Hafidz/Muhammad Gibran Arfiansyah pair got stuck. The second seed from DKI Jakarta surprisingly surrendered to the pair from South Kalimantan, M. Fathon Dwi Saputra/Muhammad Ryansyah Rani Saputra in the rubber game, 19-21, 21-15, 17-21.

Another DKI Jakarta representative, Shiva Nabila Putri/Vyananda Bintang Racketta, who competed in the women's adult doubles event, also suffered the same fate. They had to recognize the superiority of Dina Ainun Nissa Raharja/Joeyline William from West Java in a two-set match, 15-21, 14-21.

For the cadets' men's doubles, the third seed, Alif Fajdary/Yordan Alexander Gunawan (Banten) also lost. He was eliminated by Daniel Edgar Marvino/Raymond Indra (Central Java), 14-21, 19-21.

Today's national selection is still playing the group stage in a round robin system. A total of 297 players from 27 provinces participated in the selection which were divided into adult and cadet groups.

Selection took place since January 10 yesterday and will end on January 15 next.