Indonesia eves enter quarters

JAKARTA: The Indonesia women’s badminton team stepped into the quarter finals after beating hong kong, China 3-0, although two Indonesian women’s single players had to play three games to win the match at Istora Senayan on Sunday.

Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who played as the first single player, opened the lead for Indonesia after defeating Cheung Ngan Yi in three games 19-21, 21-8, 21-18.

Gregoria, who is ranked 22nd in the world, was left behind in the first game with 5-13. Although she reduced the gap to 12-13, Cheung win the first game.

Nevertheless, Gregoria was able to turn things around in the last two games and ensured excellence for the host.

“In the first game,i had to deal with strong wind in my direction and it took me longer to adapt to the conditions of the field so that I got left behind far enough. It’s only when I got my 11th point that I could play better, but I was already left far behind,” she said.

Meanwhile, in the second and third games, Gregoria was able to play better because she could adapt to conditionson the field and already knew the game rhythm of the opponent, who is ranked 21st in the world.

“I learned and paid attention to the game pattern of the opponent from her videotaped matches. And the opponent looked tired every time I played a long rally,” she said.

Indonesia doubled the advantage through women’s double Greysia Polii-apriyani Rahayu, who won two straight games against Hong Kong’s Ng Tzs Yau-yuen Sin Yin with 21-14, 21-11.

“Every point obtained in a match in a team event is very important because it can motivate players who will play later,” said Greysia.

In general, she said, she had no difficulty facing opponents from Hong Kong but needed to further adapt to field conditions such as the wind because it could affect the game.

“And most importantly, we must be able to show the best game. If other countries underestimate us, then it becomes an opportunity to play without burden,” she said.