Eliminated in the Group Stage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Apriyani Rahayu Fails to Equal Susi Susanti and Liliyana Natsir’s Record

Paris, Todaysgist.com – Women’s doubles badminton player Apriyani Rahayu had to bury her dream of defending her Olympic gold medal, after being eliminated in the group stage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Apriyani has not been able to repeat the achievements of two Indonesian badminton legends, Susi Susanti and Liliyana Natsir who were able to win two medals at the Olympics.

Apriyani Rahayu, who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with her partner Greysia Polii, will be paired with Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In Group A with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalists from China, Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan, Japanese pair Mayu Matsumoto/Wakana Nagahara, and Malaysian pair Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan, Apriyani/Siti were eliminated after losing three times in the group stage.

Apriyani/Siti even failed to win a single set in the group match. When facing Mayu/Wakana, the Indonesian pair ranked 9th in BWF lost 22-24, 15-21. When facing Chen/Jia (the pair that Apriyani and previous pair Greysia Polii defeated in the final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics), Apriyani/Siti were also unable to move and lost 12-21, 22-24.

When facing the Malaysian pair, the pair who won silver medals at the 2023 World Championships also lost 18-21, 9-21.

“We are sad and disappointed. We have also learned many lessons for future improvements,” said Apriyani in a statement obtained from PBSI, Tuesday (30/7/2024).

Apriyani admitted that she actually tried to perform well and was not burdened by her achievements at the previous Olympics.

“I personally don’t want to bring Tokyo, that is already an achievement in itself. This time of course with a different partner, a different playing pattern, my mentality has also changed. The previous achievement is my motivation,” said Apriyani.

“Honestly, this Olympics is different. Previously, there were no spectators because of Covid-19. It’s very different,” he added.

Apriyani has not been able to match the achievements of two Indonesian women’s badminton legends, Susi Susanti and Liliyana Natsir, who won two medals at the four-yearly sporting event.

Susi, who became the first Indonesian badminton player and athlete to win Olympic gold in Barcelona 1992, won bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Meanwhile, Butet, nicknamed Liliyana Natsir, who won a silver medal with Nova Widianto (mixed doubles) at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, successfully won gold with her partner, Tontowi Ahmad at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Apriyani herself hopes that Indonesia can continue the gold tradition at the Olympics. It is known that since Susi won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Indonesia has only failed to win gold in badminton once, namely at the 2012 London Olympics. Indonesia even failed to win a medal from the badminton branch at that time.

“Good luck for my friends. I hope to still have another chance at the 2028 Olympics,” said the 26-year-old badminton player.