RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO — The Embassy of Indonesia, in collaboration with M&A Badminton Court, has successfully held the first “Indonesia Badminton Cup on Sunday August 11 in Colombo.
“The Director General of Sports, Prof. Shemal Fernando, Ph.D, the Director of Diplomatic Security, SSP Harsha Amarasinghe, and the owner of the M&A Badminton Court, Claren Homer, were also in attendance”, disclosed Heru Prayitno, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy.
The Ambassador of Indonesia, Dewi Gustina Tobing, officially opened the event. She said that the Indonesia Badminton Cup was a series of activities to celebrate the 79th Independence Day of Indonesia. She further stated that Badminton was a medium that strengthened the relationships between Indonesian and Sri Lankan communities.
Moreover, Ambassador Dewi enlightened the achievements of Indonesian badminton players in the international arena for many years, such as Rudy Hartono, who became champion at the 1972 Olympics and won the All England eight times in the 1968-1976 period; Liem Swie King, who also a legendary Indonesian badminton player who won medals at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics and the All England champion; and a bronze medal in 1976; Susi Susanti who won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; and many other mainstay players.
Based on years of experience, Indonesian coach are also known for their abilities and expertise. This was seen at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the Indonesian badminton coach for the Korean Team, Rony Agustinus, played a role in An Se-Young’s success in winning the gold medal. Meanwhile, Indonesian women’s badminton player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung won a bronze medal. Nowadays, Sri Lanka has also brought in Mr. Tony Wahyudi as one of the coaches to develop its local badminton.
In his remark, Prof. Shemal Fernando, Ph.D., congratulated the Indonesian Embassy for organizing and selecting Badminton, a widespread global sport. He further acknowledged Indonesian Badminton’s achievements in the international arena. He expressed his appreciation for conducting this event, which brings together players from Indonesia and Sri Lanka, fostering camaraderie through sportsmanship.
The first “Indonesia Badminton Cup” was enthusiastically welcomed by the Diplomatic Corps and Sri Lankan and Indonesian badminton lovers. This event is not merely a competition but a symbol of friendship, mutual respect, and the enduring Indonesia-Sri Lanka partnership. “As we rally together on the badminton court, let us also rally in our hearts to promote understanding, cooperation, and harmony among our people,” emphasized Ambassador Dewi.
Sixty-four players participated in the double-game badminton matches. The pair, Md. Reyad Hossain/ Laxmanan Sanjeev was recorded as the champion, while the first runners-up were Sakri / Matheesla. Trophies were also given to the second and third runners-up, best, oldest, and youngest players. “The trophy presentation will be held on August 17, 2024, at the Embassy of Indonesia” concluded Heru.
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