Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian women's singles badminton player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung said she did not know how to feel after winning bronze at the Paris Olympics, after Spain's Carolina Marin decided to withdraw due to injury.
On Sunday, Gregoria was defeated by South Korea's An Se-young in the semifinals. She would have fought other semifinalists, either Carolina Marin or China's He Bingjiao.
Carolina, who withdrew from the competition, has made Gregoria get the bronze medal without playing.
"This is confusing. It is very wrong if I feel happy over other people's suffering," Gregoria said. "This is an unfortunate event for Marin, but I do not know how to react, like I do not want this to happen."
"To be honest, I am grateful for the medal, but I am not really happy," she added.
Gregoria's bronze medal is Indonesia's first medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and also the first medal for the country's women's singles after Maria Kristin won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Her coach, Herli Djaenudin, said that it has been a while since Indonesia's women's singles badminton won a medal.
Chairman of the Indonesian National Olympic Committee (NOC Indonesia), Raja Sapta Oktohari, said that Gregoria's medal is not simply given to her but because of her struggles.
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Olympics: Mixed emotions for Indonesia's Gregoria after bronze win
August 5, 2024 00:00 GMT+700
Indonesian badminton player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (right) and South Korea's An Se-young (left) in the semifinals of Paris Olympics badminton women's singles on August 4, 2024. (ANTARA FOTO/Wahyu Putro A/tom)
Translator: Zaro S, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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