Indonesia Grabs First Paris Olympic Medal
Gregoria Mariska Tunjung at the podium (Photo by: PBSI)
Badminton player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung Monday (08/05) won a bronze medal in the women’s singles badminton, which became the first medal for the Indonesian contingent at the Paris 2024 Olympics Games.
“Praise be to God Almighty, by His will and His blessings, we have not won a medal in the women’s singles for so long, now Gregoria can win a bronze medal,” the women’s singles coach of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) Herli Djaenudin said after the game.
Herli also expressed gratitude that Indonesian badminton can maintain the tradition of medals at every Olympics Games.
“We are targeting a medal, whatever it is because if we look (at Gregoria’s opponents), they have a ranking above Gregoria,” he added.
Echoing a similar statement, Chef de Mission of the Indonesian Contingent for the Paris 2024 Anindya Bakrie also expressed gratitude for Indonesia’s first medal.
“Alhamdulillah, Gregoria’s efforts are extraordinary. May this inspire all athletes to not give up until the end. This is a source of pride for us and Gregoria, she makes Indonesia proud. Gregoria’s performance continues to improve,” Anindya said.
For the record, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung managed to beat Ukrainian badminton player Polina Buhrova and Czech badminton player Tereza Svabikova in the Group G preliminary round, Kim Ga Eun of South Korea in the round of 16, and Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the quarter-finals.
However, in the semifinals, Gregoria lost to An Se Young of South Korea, who finally won the gold medal. Meanwhile, in the other semifinal match, Carolina Marin of Spain was forced to retire in the middle of the second game due to a right knee injury despite being ahead of Chinese athlete He Bing Jiao; thus, the bronze medal was awarded to Gregoria.
Gregoria’s success ended Indonesia’s 16-year wait to win a women’s singles badminton medal at the Olympics Games since Maria Kristin won a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics 2008. (PR of Ministry of Youth and Sports/UN) (GWH/MUR)
