Jakarta: World No. 8 Indonesian shuttler Tommy Sugiarto will get to play at the highest level of international badminton championships this August when he was listed as one of the 10 Indonesian badminton players who will take part in the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
“According to the latest World Badminton Federation (BWF) rankings, 10 of our badminton players have qualified for the Rio Olympic Games,” said general chairman Gita Wirjawan.
In addition to Tommy Sugiarto who has earned his Olympic berth in men’s single, Linda Wenifanetri also clinched a spot in the women’s singles event.
After his first gold medal win in the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Markis Kido, Hendra Setiawan who will be aiming for his second Olympic gold medal with Mohammad Ahsan in Rio. In mixed doubles, both Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir and Praveen Jordan/Debby Susanto have qualified for the event.
Greysia Polii who became one of eight women doubles players that were disqualified for “tanking” at the 2012 London Olympics, made a successful comeback with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari in Rio after the major career setback in London.
Indonesia has set a lofty target for the 2016 Olympics of winning golds in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles. It is also possible for Indonesia to clinch golds in men’s singles and women’s doubles if the Indonesian shuttlers can achieve their extraordinary level of performance.
