Asian Games: Jonatan Christie Picks Up 23rd Gold
Jonatan Christie won gold medal on mens single badminton after defeating Chou Tien Chen from Taipei, at Istora GBK Stadium, Jakarta, Tuesday (28/8). (Photo: ANGGUN/PR)
Indonesian badminton rising star Jonatan Christie keeps Indonesias badminton gold medal traditional alive at the Asian Games after securing a gold medal for Indonesia on mens singles final match held at Istora GBK, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (28/8).
It is the 23rd gold medal Indonesia has won at the Asiad.
The 20-year-old Jonatan defeated China Taipei’s opponent Chou Tien Chen in a tight game with score of 21-18, 20-22 and 21-15.
Some of high-ranking officials including Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Villages, the Development of Underdeveloped Regions and Transmigration Eko Sandjojo, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Syafruddin, Attorney General Prasetyo SH, and Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan, were spotted among the spectators at the final match.
Jonatan won the first match with a score of 21-18. In the second set, Chou rebounded and scored 20-22. The game went intense and tight until in the last and deciding set, Jonatan left Chou with a 21-15 victory.
Meanwhile, shuttler Anthony Ginting claimed the bronze medal together with Japans Kenta Nishimoto after losing to Chou in semifinal with a score of 21-16, 21-23, 17-21.
Jonatan is currently world 15th in mens singles, while Chou is the world 6th.
Badminton made its debut in the Asian Games as a demonstration sport at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, and became a regular competitive sport in 1962. In the 1962 Games, six events were held, with singles, doubles and team for both men and women. The mixed doubles event was added in 1966 Asian Games.
Indonesias last gold in the mens singles category was in the 2006 Asian Games Doha presented by Indonesias badminton legend Taufik Hidayat.
