BWF Uploads Video Titled Love Letter For Istora Senayan, Testimony Of World Athletes

Atmosphere Istora Senayan. (Photo: Ulfa Gusti Utami/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Badminton World Federation (BWF) uploaded a video entitled "Love Letter for Istora Senayan". The video contains the moments of world badminton players conveying mementos when appearing in Indonesia.

Istora Senayan is one of the global badminton arenas. A number of big agendas in the badminton world are often held in the venue that was built in the 1960s.

This year there is a plan that the badminton agenda, which is scheduled for Istora, will be moved to the Indonesia Arena which has been completed. The plan will clearly leave memories for badminton players from various times to have a beautiful memory at Istora.

In an upload on their official YouTube account, BWF summarizes the memories of world badminton players who had experienced appearing on Istora. In the 18-minute video, the players tell various fun and touching stories.

Chou Tien Chen and Loh Kean Yew even shared stories about the cheers 'eaa, eaa, aaa' that the audience often made in the stands when they played on Istora. This is considered by both to be a memorable moment.

"They (the audience) supported from within the heart so we could feel it. One of their punches shouted 'eaa', two of them shouted 'eaaea aaa', three 'eaaea eaa' punches," said Tien Chen, smiling.

"I was doing regular habits before the match and they then started shouting 'eaa eaa iaha eea aaa' ha ha ha ha," continued Kean Yew from the video quoted on Wednesday, August 18.

The boisterous audience who burned the spirit became the most memorable thing for the majority of players while competing in Istora. Zheng Siwei stated that playing at Istora meant having to double concentration on the field because the screams of the audience could break concentration.

"The atmosphere is beyond your imagination. You have to be really focused. If you don't really focus, your ears can grow," said Huang Yaqiong in the mixed doubles sector.

The story of memories at Istora was also shared by the Indonesian badminton legend, Rexy Mainaky. He recounted the extraordinary moment when he brought Indonesia to become the Thomas Cup champion almost 30 years ago, when Istora's situation was much different from today.

"I remember the 1994 Thomas Cup was really crazy. The atmosphere on the pitch was crazy," Rexy said in the video.

The story of emotion was even shared by Carolina Marin. The former world number one women's singles player really appreciated the audiences at Istora who continued to support her even though she lost at the Indonesia Open at Istora.

"I remember losing a tough match against Wang Yi Han. At that time my eyes felt watery because I lost but they were there (Istora) shouting my name," recalls Marin.