INDONESIA MASTERS Finals – Intanon and Ginting glory in Jakarta

Ratchanok Intanon sealed the Indonesia Masters title as she defeated Carolina Marin in an intense three-game final to top the podium for the first time in 9 months.

Story: Nadhira Rahmani, Badzine Correspondent live in Jakarta
Photos: Jnanesh Salian / Badmintonphoto (live)

In a thrilling eighty-minute final between two former world #1 shuttlers, Ratchanok Intanon (pictured) proved that she is still in the hunt for an Olympic medal.  Spain’s Carolina Marin pushed Intanon all the way with her fierce smash and good placing of the shuttle but it was Intanon’s play in the net area that proved her mastery today.

“Today, Marin played very well, like usual,” said Intanon afterward.  “She will play more aggressively in an important match like today.  She will always try to push her opponent.  That’s when I realized that I have to focus and be calm.  I tried to enjoy every point as well.”

Besides her outstanding net play, Intanon admitted that the secret to her success is her ability to control herself today: “I have to be able to control myself, my emotions first because if I believe that if I am able to control myself, I can beat any player.”

The 24-year-old Thai confessed that in the third game, things got hard on her side because of the wind in the arena:  “When we changed ends at the interval in the third game, Marin got the advantage of playing on the side where the wind would trouble me.  I knew that Marin would play more in attacking.  That is why I had to play fast and I had to trouble her with my shot placement.”

The Thai shuttler also thanked the fans who came to cheer for both her and her opponent: “I had to perform my best today for the supporters who came all the way to cheer for me and Marin.  We had to put on a very good show indeed.”

Ginting finds success on 6th attempt

After more than a year not winning any title, and after five unsuccessful appearances in major event finals, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (pictured) finally clinched his first title since the 2018 China Open.  The 23-year-old Indonesian defeated the defending champion from Denmark, Anders Antonsen (pictured bottom), to take back the title he himself had held in 2018.

Ginting’s triumph felt special because it was done in his home country in front of his mother, who came all the way from Cimahi to witness her son play in the final.

“My mom arrived on Thursday and has been watching me play ever since, with my brother and sister as well,” said Ginting after his victory.  “I felt extremely happy that I could become the champion in my home country and also I would like to dedicate this title to my mother, who came all this way to see me play.”

Only some of the world’s top players are proceeding to the Thailand Masters Super 300 in the coming week but among those slated to are all women’s singles and doubles finalists from Jakarta and those two are the two strongest fields expected in Bangkok.  Other shuttlers expect to be busy in India’s Premier Badminton League, while still others might get a short break for the lunar New Year, which is celebrated next weekend.

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