Indonesia clinches seven medals at Dubai Para-Badminton

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The Indonesian para-badminton team clinched seven medals at the 5th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2023 held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on December 11-17.

As quoted from an official statement of the National Paralympic Committee of Indonesia (NPC Indonesia) on Monday, at the tournament, the Indonesian team bagged one gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.

Leani Ratri Oktila and Hikmat Hidayat won gold for Indonesia in the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5.

In the final match, held at Al Nasr Club, Dubai, on Sunday (December 17), Oktila and Hidayat beat India’s Manisha Ramadas and Pramod Bhagat with 21-14, 21-11.

Oktila expressed gratitude for winning a gold medal in one of the three events she had participated in during the tournament.

“Thank God, I could finish the last event in 2023. Although I am not quite satisfied with the overall results of the events I participated in (during the tournament), I am still grateful for the achievements I clocked,” she remarked.

“This match is really important for earning points (to qualify) for the Paris 2024 Paralympics. We will maintain more unity on the court. Of course, we will also carry out evaluations, and in the future, hopefully, we can continue to deliver achievements consistently,” Hidayat affirmed.

In addition to competing in the mixed doubles event, Oktila also participated in the Women’s Doubles SL3-SU5 event with Khalimatus Sadiyah and the Women’s Singles SL4 event.

“Hopefully, in 2024, I can increase my achievements, especially at world championships and the Paris Paralympics,” she remarked.

The win in Dubai has further cemented the dominance of the Oktila-Hidayat pair, as the two earlier won gold in the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, Japan Para Badminton International 2023, and World Abilitysport Games in Thailand.

Although the Indonesian team only won one gold in Dubai, the team’s coach, Jarot Hernowo, expressed appreciation for the Indonesian athletes’ performance to accumulate points for the 2024 Paralympics.

“These achievements are in accordance with the targets, where mainstay events (are targeted to) be able to enter the final. Though four matches reached the final, the result is only one gold,” he remarked.

The Indonesian team’s three silver medals were bagged by Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh in the Women’s Singles SL3, Leani Ratri Oktila in the Women’s Singles SL4, and Leani Ratri Oktila-Khalimatus Sadiyah in the Women’s Doubles SL3-SU5.

Meanwhile, the three bronze medals were won by Khalimatus Sadiyah in the Women’s Singles SL4, Suryo Nugroho in the Men’s Singles SU5, and Fredy Setiawan-Khalimatus Sadiyah in the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5.