Indonesia Open 2023 Last Time Using Istora Venue, Jonatan Christie Discusses Plus Minus New Locations At IMS

Jonathan Christie/PHOTO: Ulfa Gusti Utami-VOI

JAKARTA - The year 2023 will be the last year Istora Senayan will be used for badminton tournaments, including the Indonesia Open.

This received a response from the Indonesian men's singles, Jonatan Christie, who said it would have a plus and minus impact.

Actually, I just heard about the news at the press conference here. Yes, I think that next year we have to move, there will be good and bad things," Jonatan said at a press conference after the match at Istora Senayan, Wednesday, June 14.

According to Jonatan Christie, the minus that will arise from the decision to move the location of the tournament is the loss of the Indonesian badminton icon which is already attached to Istora. In addition, this will make the players as well as badminton lovers have to adjust from the start to the new atmosphere.

"The bed is, Istora has become a very icon for the world badminton event. If you play in Indonesia, you will definitely play at Istora," he said.

"In addition, we have always played at Istora for decades, even though we played at the JCC in 2017, but it was a very different aura. The atmosphere is different, so I don't know if next year (Indonesia Open) will move to the Indonesia Arena (the atmosphere) is like what," said Jonatan Christie.

Although aware of the shortcomings that will occur, Jonathan Christie did not deny that the transfer of venues would also bring good things. One of them is the question of the capacity of a new place that is wider so that it can accommodate more spectators.

"The capacity will be much more added, so more badminton lovers will come and support us," said the 2023 Indonesia Masters champion.

It is known that the Indonesia Open the following year will no longer be held at Istora. In the coming year, international badminton events will be moved to the Indoor Multifunction Stadium (IMS) which is still at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) complex.

The news of the transfer of the venue for this event was conveyed directly by the Chairman of the Indonesian Open 2023 organizing committee, Armand Darmadji. The larger IMS capacity factor is the main reason for the transfer of the venue, if Istora can only accommodate 6 thousand spectators, then IMS has around 16,088 seats.