Singapore: Indonesia won their first badminton gold medal at the 2015 SEA Games through the men’s team event on Friday, after the team defeated Thailand 3-2 in the men’s team event final.
Thai’s top men’s singles shuttler, world No. 22 Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk made a good start in the first men’s singles match to beat Jonathan Christie 21-17, 21-19.
Indonesia’s Ricky Karanda Suwardi and Angga Pratama started the first men’s doubles match strongly. They were in imperious form against Bodin Issara and Nitpitphon Puangpuapech, sending the Thai duo packing 21-15, 21-13.
Then Thai’s veteran Boonsak Ponsana has proved too much for the young Indonesian Firman Abdul Kholik, winning 21-7, 21-14 to put Thailand ahead with 2-1.
Stretching them to their very limit, Indonesian men’s doubles pair of Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Gideon Markus Fernaldi were digging deep to fend off the attacks from Pakkawat Vilailak and Wannawat Ampunsuwan of Thailand. The Indonesian pair fought back from one set down and eventually won the match with 21-18, 18-21, 21-14 and to go 2-2 in the tie.
In the third men’s singles match, Indonesian youngster Ihsan Maulana Mustafa was once again the hero of Indonesia as saw in the men’s semi-finals tie against Malaysia. Ihsan Maulana Mustafa battled his own nerves and a surprisingly difficult opponent, Suppanyu Avihingsanon of Thailand on the court, before outlasted the Thai in a colossal three-set thriller 20-22, 21-16, 21-9.
“Ihsan is truly an extraordinary shuttler. We already anticipated that Suppanyu would give Ihsan a tenacious resistance, but it turned out Ihsan was so incredible. We are very satisfied with the result, “said Indonesian coach, Hendry Saputra.
Malaysia and Singapore were also joint third in the men’s event.
