Three men's singles players, Ihsan Maulana Mustofa, Jonatan Christie and Anthony Sinisuka Ginting have stood firmly on their ground when facing world's top 10 players. Surprisingly, Jonatan could overcome Lin Dan's threat, China's seeded. Anthony also played very well when taking on Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark). Ihsan the 20 year old player is the only Indonesian player to have the chance winning a ticket to semifinal. At his young age, Ihsan emerged as the Indonesian flagship when taking on China's world #2 player, Lee Chong Wei.
In women's doubles, the Greysia/Nitya's defeat turned out to be a motivation boost for a tier pair Anggia Shitta Awanda/Ni Ketut Mahadewi Istarani who succeeded in stopping Korean seeded, Jung Kyung Eun/Shin Seung Chan. So did with Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah/Rizki Amelia Pradipta who on their journey to quarter final managed to tame Japanese pair, Shizuka Matsuo/Mami Naito, and also the 2012 London Olympic gold medalist, Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei (China).
“Ihsan's struggle should be appreciated, although losing from Lee Chong Wei, Ihsan tried his best, he caught up the second set. We have to admit that Lee Chong Wei is way more experienced and more superior, this is a lesson for Ihsan in the future,” Gita Wirjawan, The Head of Indonesia Badminton Association, said who happened to watch Ihsan's match at the stadium on Saturday, (4/6).
“In the next two years we will have men's singles trio who currently are not poles apart from world's top 10 players. Jonatan, Ihsan and Anthony troubled their opponents who lies on world's top 10, they were just lacking calmness, they were oftentimes provoked by their opponents, they were still unstable," added Rexy Mainaky, The Head of Development and Achievements.
The three year title drought makes the Indonesia Badminton Association put the next year's Indonesia Open as one of their main targets apart from the All England. The tier players are considered adequate to be given expectations.
“In the future, the tiers are considered ready to emerge upsets, we will challenge them, can they become the champions?" Rexy ended.
