Failed To Meet The Target At The 2023 Badminton World Championships, What's Up With Indonesian Representatives?

The pair Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto. (Photo: Twitter/@INABadminton)

JAKARTA The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) revealed the problem that made Indonesia fail to bring home the title from the 2023 World Championships in Denmark last week.

In the event, the only Indonesian representatives who were able to reach the final were the women's doubles Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti. However, they have to settle for being runners up.

The pair failed to bring home the title after losing to the Chinese pair, Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan, two straight games at the Royal Arena, Sunday, August 27 yesterday.

"This failure must be an important lesson so that it does not fail again in important championships and other events in the future. We must immediately prepare for the next championship," said Rionny Mainaky, Head of Development and Achievement.

Rionny explained that mental problems are factors that prevent Indonesia from getting titles. In fact, the national badminton parent previously targeted two titles for Indonesia.

"If mentally not strong, it will affect various aspects when players play on the field. It can have an impact on the technique they have, it is lost. Skills do not appear, also laxness and movement are felt slow," he said.

The failure at the World Championships forced Indonesia to extend the title drought to four consecutive tournaments. The men's doubles numbers that became the focus even immediately fell all in the quarter-finals.

In this number, the world number one pair Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto even ran aground in the second half after getting an empty draw in the first half.

"In the men's doubles, there is such a heavy pressure on the players. They lose because the burden is too heavy. Fajar/Rian cannot be maximized. Even though both of them are the spearheads," he said.

In the mixed doubles number, those who do not have representatives in this prestigious event, also cannot do much. The sector's furthest journey is to reach the third round.

"In mixed doubles, it must be admitted, our players lost class. Can fight back, but have not been able to beat the opponent who currently occupies the position at the top four in the world," said Rionny.

As for the women's singles number, Gregoria actually went quite far into the quarter-finals. However, it fell in the hands of Akane Yamaguchi.

"For Gregoria, unfortunately, she couldn't take advantage of the opportunity. At the time against Akane, she made a lot of mistakes herself. As long as she played normally and focused, she should have. She made a lot of mistakes herself," he said.

"For all sectors, and especially men's singles, players must be more aware that appearing at the World Championships is different. Their achievements are highly expected and awaited by the Indonesian people. The target should not be a burden, but this brings responsibility for how to be able to perform well and win," he added.

Indonesian badminton players after this will appear at the China Open 2023 which will take place on September 5-10. A total of 16 representatives of the Red and White will compete in the event.