Badminton Delivers Silver Medal for Indonesia in Men’s Team
Indonesia mens badminton team. (Photo: PR/Nia).
Indonesias men badminton team had to settle for a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games after losing 1-3 to China’s team at the Final held at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/22).
In the beginning of the game, Antony Ginting, Indonesias first single, won the first game 21-14 over his opponent Shi Yuqi, yet in the second set Ginting narrowly lost the game 21-23. Ginting was then forced to retire with a leg injury in the crucial third game with score of 21-20.
In the second match, Indonesias Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya brought the home side back onto level terms, with a comfortable 21-17, 21-18 win over Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen.
The match continued to the third, when Jonathan Christie gave a lifeline for Indonesia and won 21-19 in the first set over former Olympic champion, Chen Long. But in the second and third set, Chen Long beat his Indonesian opponent 16-21 and 18-21 and won the match. .
In the fourth game, Indonesias second Double Pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto’s was defeated by experienced Chinese pair Zhang Nan and Liu Cheng in rubber set 17-21, 21-17 and 21-18.
By that result, the overall score was 1-3 for China.
At the end of the Final match, both Jonathan Christie and Fajar – Rian expressed apologies to Indonesian people for not winning a gold medal for Indonesia.
In the meantime, President Joko Jokowi Widodo, who watched the match live, visited Ginting when the shuttler was receiving treatment. The Indonesian people are proud of Anthonys struggle. You have done your best, the President tweeted.
