Indonesian Badminton Resurgence at Historic All England Open 2024
Conor Hudson
Mon Mar 18 2024
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Not long ago, Indonesian badminton was criticized for international failures. However, at the All England Open 2024, they have quickly risen with unprecedented records over the past three decades. The nation ended its "gold medal drought" in the men's singles final with a showdown between Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and Jonatan Christie, echoing the glory of the past generation's Hariyanto Arbi and Ardy Wiranata. Additionally, Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Rian Ardianto in the men's doubles final contributed to Indonesia's best performance at the All England Open since 2014.
Ginting secured his spot in the men's singles final by defeating Christo Popov of France, while Christie followed suit by overcoming India's Lakshya Sen in a thrilling 21-12, 10-21, 21-15 match. Christie expressed, “There is a lot of pressure, expectations on our team to achieve such a result. We train hard every day. After each tournament, we analyze and try again, repeating until we achieve this result.”
Popov was considered the underdog against Ginting, but the French shuttler surprised by taking the lead. However, he couldn't withstand Ginting's fast-paced and decisive attacks, leading to the Indonesian star's comeback victory at 19-21, 21-5, 21-11. Ginting reflected, “I didn't think about making history. From the beginning, I focused on myself; on my physical preparation and strategy. I didn't want anything to distract my focus.”
In the women's singles, Carolina Marin aims to reclaim the title after 9 years. Marin dominated Tai Tzu Ying, who struggled physically, with a convincing 21-13, 21-12 win. She will face the 2022 champion Akane Yamaguchi in the final, who defeated defending champion An Se Young in an epic 82-minute semifinal. Yamaguchi revealed, “The match was tough. Sometimes I felt my legs weren't moving as fast as I wanted. But I tried to maintain speed and position as much as possible.”
The All England Open 2024 witnessed an Indonesian badminton revival, with Ginting, Christie, and the doubles pair showcasing stellar performances. As they break barriers and make history, the Indonesian contingent has rejuvenated hopes and aspirations in the world of badminton.