Forgetting Game Patterns, Rinov/Pitha Eliminated in the Quarter Finals of BAC

– Indonesian mixed doubles, Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari, were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC), Thursday (28/4/2023).

Playing at the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Indoor Hall, Al Nasr Club, Dubai, Rivov/Pitha gave up the eighth seeds from Malaysia, Goh Soon Huat/Lai Shevon Jemie, 17-21, 21-15, and 19-21. The 14th ranked double fell after 55 minutes of fighting.

Rinov admitted they were not optimal in this match. They forgot their own pattern of play even though they won the second game.

“Thank God, we were able to finish today’s match even though the results have not returned to the maximum. We had a chance to win but in the final points we forgot about our game pattern,” said Rinov.

“Compared to the last meeting, today’s male players are very smart in managing the pattern and rhythm of the game but we have anticipated that. We lost in the concentration factor,” said the 23-year-old badminton player.

Rinov/Pitha actually defeated the Malaysian doubles in their last meeting, namely at the 2022 BWF World Tour Finals.

“The last meeting we were able to win two straight games because I enjoy playing up front, but from the first to the third game I haven’t found any feeling good on the field,” said Pitha.

Pitha revealed that actually this should not have happened for a long time but they failed even though they had tried.

“If you have met an opponent at the same level as this, you have to be consistent. And your opponent did that today, how about when they were left behind and when they excelled, to be really consistent to maintain the pattern,” said the athlete who was born in Jakarta.

Another Indonesian representative in mixed doubles, Dejan Ferdinandyah/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja, managed to win a BAC semi-final ticket after defeating the Indian pair, Rohan Kapoor/Reddy Sikki, 21-18, 19-21, and 21-15. They drove off after struggling 1 hour and 5 minutes. In the semifinals Djan/Gloria will meet Chinese doubles, Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin.

Meanwhile, the other mixed doubles, Praveen Jordan/Melati Daeva Oktavianti, failed to advance to the semifinals. They stopped after being defeated by the first seeds Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong, 11-21, 17-21. Praveen/Melati gave up after 30 minutes of fighting.