Because they are athletes who were scouted in Jakarta by the Jaya Raya Badminton Association and they championed internationally, we wanted their name enshrined to boost motivation through generations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The names of Indonesian women's doubles pairs of Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalists, Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu were enshrined in the sports hall in the Student Sports Training Center (PPOP) area, Ragunan, South Jakarta.

"Because they are athletes who were scouted in Jakarta by the Jaya Raya Badminton Association and they championed internationally, we wanted their name enshrined to boost motivation through generations," Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said at PPOP Ragunan here, Saturday.

The sports hall was named Sasana Emas (Golden Training Arena) Greysia Apriani, after Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The building is located in the newly renovated sports facilities of the Jakarta Provincial Government, Baswedan pointed out.

The entire sports area complex had not been inaugurated, Bawedan added.

Nevertheless, he hoped that the enshrinement would inspire and motivate the younger generation who are currently training at PPOP while still pursuing formal education.

The building became a place to encourage the younger generation trainees to become athletes for several kinds of sports disciplines, he highlighted.

However, Polii said she did not expect her name to be engraved on one of the sports halls.

She also recalled her childhood while training at PPOP Ragunan to be in the top position as an Indonesian badminton player.

"Bonuses and appreciations are what every athlete can see and achieve, but to be able to put their names on a badminton hall, where I spent my childhood, is outstanding," she remarked.

Similarly, Rahayu too was moved and did not expect her name to be enshrined in the sports hall.

"Honestly, I was very moved to see this building, which is named Sasana Emas Greysia Apriani," she said.

Polii-Rahayu took the gold medal in the badminton women's doubles upsetting China's Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan at the recently concluded 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

In the final match, held at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, Tokyo, Greysia and Apriyani secured a 21-19, 21-15 win in 55 minutes, according to the official website of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

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Translator: Dewa W, Kenzu T
Editor: Sri Haryati
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