Indonesia’s women’s team secured their ticket to the finals of the SEA Games Cambodia 2023 team event after winning over Philippines with a score of 3-0 in the semifinals match which was held at the Badminton Hall, Morodok Techo National Sports Complex in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Wednesday (11/5/2023).
Philippines’ badminton players, who appeared tough against Malaysia in the quarter-finals, have lost in 3 straight games.
In the first match, Mikaela Joy De Guzman, who is ranked 189th, lost with a score of 13-21, 5-21 to Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi, ranked 52nd in the world. This was De Guzman’s second time to lose over the same opponent. Previously, she had already played against Komang in the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2022.
Komang's placement as the first single was quite unexpected. In terms of ranking, she is Indonesia's second single under Putri Kusuma Wardani who is ranked 41st.
In the second party which competed in doubles, Indonesia increased its victory to 2-0 through Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Amalia Cahya Pratiwi, ranked 14th in the world, winning easily 11-21, 12-21 against the Filipino doubles Airah Mae Nicole Albo/Thea Marie Pomar, who are an impromptu pair. Airah Mae is usually paired with Eleanor Christine Inlayo who is ranked 351.
Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo, ranked 60th in the world, ensured that Indonesia would qualify for the finals after winning 21-19, 21-9 over Maria Bianca Ysabel Carlos.
In the final, Indonesia will meet Thailand, who has won 3-1 in the semifinals against Singapore. In the first match, Singapore stole the point through Yeo Jia Min, ranked 34th in the world, who beat Lalinrat Chaiwan, ranked 23rd, 21-15, 21-6. This is Yeo Jia Min's fourth win over the same opponent.
Unfortunately, in the following parties, Yeo Jia Min's success could not be followed by her colleagues. In the second match, the Singaporean pair, Jin Yu Jia/Wong Jia Ying Crystal, who are ranked 20th in the world, lost in three games 21-12, 9-21, 14-21 by Jongkolphan Kititharakul/Rawinda Prajongjai, ranked 9th in the world.
Then, Singapore's second singles, Insyirah Khan, ranked 75th, lost easily 11-21, 8-21 to Supanida Katethong, ranked 24th. For Supanida, this was her second win over Insyirah, after a victory that was previously achieved at the Thailand Masters 2023.
The world's 12th ranked pair Benyapa Aimsard/Nuntakarn Aimsard made Thailand meet Indonesia in the final. They only needed 20 minutes to defeat Xiao En Heng/Yi Ting Elsa Lai 21-6, 21-7.
At the SEA Games 2021 in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia have also met in the final. As a result, Thailand won 3-0 and obtained the gold medal in SEA Games 2021. Will the final have a different ending this year? We will see.
