AJC 2023: Mutiara Brings Indonesia to Match Score Against Japan

– Women’s singles Mutiara Ayu Puspitasari performed brilliantly and brought Indonesia to a 1-1 draw against Japan in the mixed team final at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships (AJC) 2023, Tuesday (11/7/2023).

Playing at the Amongraga Sports Hall, Yogyakarta, Mutiara drew a draw after defeating the Japanese representative, Tomoka Miyazaki, 21-17, 21-16.

In this match, the champion of the Indonesia International Series 2022 admitted that he was motivated to face Tomoka Miyazaki. It is understandable that the women’s singles from the Land of the Rising Sun is the champion of the 2022 BWF World Junior Championships.

No wonder the player who was born on May 17, 2006 tried hard to beat Miyazaki in front of the Student City public.

“What an extraordinary match. The atmosphere of the final match was really felt and the support from the fans also made me excited,” said Mutiara.

“Certainly got goosebumps because I was able to contribute points for Indonesia and beat the world junior champion. I am very motivated by those two things,” said Mutiara.

Mutiara admitted that she knew her opponent’s weaknesses so that in this match she was able to overcome the women’s singles who was ranked 116th in the world in 46 minutes.

“I have met opponents before. I study the opponent’s playing style and try to anticipate every attack that is launched,” added the 2021 Slovenia International champion.

Mutiara’s game actually went uphill after in the Group A phase she lost to China’s women’s singles, Xu Wen Jing, with a score of 12-21, 10-21. However, after that defeat Mutiara began to find her best form of play to become the determinant for Indonesia to advance to the final.

After being rested in the quarterfinals, in the top four, Mutiara immediately contributed points. Mutiara was able to beat the Thai women’s singles, Saranporn Sombutwatthananukool with a score of 17-21, 21-7, 21-18.

These results made Indonesia pack a 3-0 victory over Thailand and qualify for the final.

In the first game, the team nicknamed the Red-White Youth failed to gain points after the mixed doubles Adrian Pratama/Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu surrendered to the Japanese pair, Daigo Tanioka/Maya Taguchi with a score of 8-21, 20-22.

In the third party, the men’s singles number will be contested. Indonesian representative Alwi Farhan will face Japanese athlete Yudai Okimoto.

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