"To me, (the results) do not only bring the `fresh wind` but also lead to a new spirit for our athletes for the future," said Susi Susant.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The international badminton tournament "Indonesia Masters 2018" came to an end in the Jakarta`s Istora Senayan or Sports Palace Hall on Sunday, which was held from January 23 to 28, and leaved satisfactory achievement for Indonesia`s athletes.

The results achieved by the Indonesia`s athletes in this tournament has brought the "fresh wind" to the badminton as one of the popular sports in Indonesia.

In the 4th level tournament (Super 500), Indonesia placed four representatives in the finals that resulted in two titles and two runners-ups.

"To me, (the results) do not only bring the `fresh wind` but also lead to a new spirit for our athletes for the future," said Susi Susanti, chief of performance and achievement affairs of the All Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI).

In the tournament with a total prize of US$350 thousand, Indonesia grabbed two titles through Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the men`s singles and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in the men`s double pair.

Meanwhile, the runner-up results were reached by Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir in the mixed double pair and Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu in the women`s double pair.

"We are successful to place four finalists. Actually, our target is one title because the competition is quite tight. In the final we won two gold, and two silver medals, of course (we) become the overall champion. Overall (result) is very good because for many years, maybe from the 1990s to 2,000 we could pass up to four representatives in the final. And it happens again this time," Susi Susanti remarked.

The Men`s single Ginting was able to end the resistance of Japanese player Kazumasa Sakai in two straight games 21-13, 21-12.

Playing tight at the beginning of the game, Ginting began to leave Sakai behind at the time interval of 10-8. Although Sakai is trying to keep up with Ginting`s game, the points of the Indonesian player continued to move ahead and cannot be approached by the Japanese shuttler.

Losing the first game and huge support for Ginting made Sakai helpless in the second game. The Indonesian representative who continued to lead from the start of the match, kept moving ahead and finally, he played a smart shuttlecock by dropping it to the front right side of Sakai`s court. Ginting finished the game in 33 minutes with a victory.

With the victory and all the way to the final he often beat great players like Chen Long (China) and Chou Tien Chen (Taiwan). Ginting called this as an asset for the next matches and for his target to reach the world top 10.

"I do not really think about rushing to the top 10. I just try to do the best in every game." With this achievement I hope Indonesia`s men`s single will be more motivated to excel in the future," Ginting said.

Meanwhile, Kazumasa Sakai said his defeat was more because of fatigue factors that he cannot match the speed of Ginting that often makes him depressed in the final party.

"Ginting played fast with sharp smashes. It is a special pressure for me so I also often made my own mistakes," said Sakai.

These results, according to Susi, showed the incredible struggle of Indonesian athletes in all numbers, although the women`s singles still left behind, which was halted in round two.

But for the men`s singles, men`s doubles, mixed doubles, and women`s doubles pairs, they showcased extraordinary fight as they could go into the finals.

"We have to work hard again to give more achievements", said Susi, the women`s singles gold medalist at the Barcelona Olympics.

The complete results of the final matches of the Indonesia Masters 2018 are as follows.

Men`s single
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (INA) - Kazumasa Sakai (JPN) 21-14, 21-11

Women`s Single
Tai Tzu Ying (TWN/TPE/1) - Saina Nehwal (IND) 21-9, 21-13

Men`s double pair
Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA/1) - Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen (CHN/2) 11-21, 21-10, 21-16

Women`s double pair
Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi (JPN/2) - Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu (INA/8) 21-17, 21-12

Mixed double pair
Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong (CHN/6) - Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir (INA/1) 21-14, 21-11

In the meantime, Indonesian Vice President M Jusuf Kalla also attended the final event of the "Indonesia Masters 2018" in a bid to spur the spirit of the country`s athletes.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has indeed declared Indonesia Masters as being equal to Superseries starting this year, offering US$350 thousand in total prizes.

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(T.SYS/A/B003/S012)

Reporter: Bustanuddin
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018