ASIAN GAMES WD Final – Indonesia gets first gold!

Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari were crowned the new Asian Games women’s doubles champions after a perfectly controlled match against the Japanese top seeds Matsutomo and Takahashi.  This rare, China-less women’s doubles final may well open the door against Chinese domination in this category.

By Tarek Hafi, Badzine Correspondent live in Incheon.  Photos: Don Hearn (live)

Thirty-six years after the last time an Indonesian pair grabbed the women’s doubles gold medal at the Asian Games, Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari created history leaving only the bronze to a Chinese squad that is accustomed to leaving other nations with only scraps in that category

Top seeds Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi probably didn’t expect to be outplayed in such a manner by their Indonesian opponents.  Despite being one of the most consistent pairs in the world, they were really not even close to reaching the level of the Indonesian ladies, who started the match with a long series of smashes and pressuring drives.

Overjoyed and in disbelief after their win, the Indonesians were surrounded by journalists, fans and volunteers who wished to feel part of the history that had just been engraved in the badminton world.

“I just have no words to describe what we are living right now.  For many years we have been working hard.  It has been a long preparation and finally here we are!” said an excited Greysia Polii in her post match press conference.

And she had many reasons to be happy as the pair has been challenging most of the world’s best pairs over the past year.  They have been getting used to very long matches and rallies but finally they have topped one of the best Asian pairs in one of the most important tournaments.

“Our coach told us that we will never become a hope for the nation so to go out and play with no pressure and give it our best and this is what we did,” added Polii.

The Indonesian top women’s doubles pair was helped by numerous Indonesians fans vociferously dominating the atmosphere in the stadium to their advantage with chants accompanied by drums.  The Japanese pair, almost seeming to sense their fate, looked absolutely paralyzed and began experiencing difficulties their smashes while committing unusual mistakes, showing the degree to which nerves were involved in that final.

Greysia and Nitya now planned to celebrate their win some soju (a Korean liquor) while enjoying their last days in that now-blessed 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

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