Badminton Lovers From Bandung Belain Watching Live At Istora Senayan: Really Missing

Sinta (left), a badminton lover from Bandung, is willing to spend money to watch it live at Istora Senayan Jakarta. (Photo: Cosmas Kopong Beda/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesia Open 2022 was enthusiastically welcomed by the audience. Not a few badminton lovers are willing to travel long distances and take the time to watch the world's athletes in action at Istora Senayan, Jakarta.

The BWF Super 1000 level championship was held again in Istora after two years of hiatus due to the pandemic. This time, the audience was able to attend the event.

Permission to be watched directly by the audience made a badminton lover from Bandung named Sinta, willing to spend money to go to Jakarta. He was in the capital since Sunday, June 12 yesterday.

“In Jakarta from Sunday until tomorrow, I have returned home. I'll watch it again tomorrow after that in the afternoon," said Sinta, who idolizes Chinese player Hwang Zhi Yi when met at Istora on Tuesday, June 14.

Before watching the Indonesia Open, Sinta had already watched the final match of the Indonesia Masters. He deliberately watched the final match because there was a farewell event for Greysia Polii who retired from badminton.

After the final of the Indonesia Masters, Sinta chose to stay in Jakarta to spend her time watching the Indonesia Open in the first two days. The distance between Jakarta and Bandung is quite far, making it impossible for him to go back and forth.

Sinta said that after two years of the pandemic, which prevented a prestigious championship like this from being held and attended by spectators, she was also willing to set aside time to experience the atmosphere that had been submerged for two years.

"Yes, because it's been two and a half years since there has been no competition here, I really miss it. So just force it, when else? I really miss the atmosphere of Istora watching live like that," he said, adding that the last time he watched the Indonesia Masters 2019.

In this year's Indonesia Open, Indonesia has a total of 20 representatives who enter the main draw. Some of them have fallen, such as the mixed doubles Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari.

Sinta hopes that many Indonesian representatives can reach the final for this year after last year's title was only brought home by Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Gideon men's doubles.

"Hopefully many Indonesian players will enter the final. Yesterday [at the 2022 Indonesia Masters], there were only two. So hopefully there will be more Indonesia Opens,” he hoped.