Kumamoto: Gregoria Mariska Tunjung secured her inaugural triumph at the BWF Super 500 level by clinching victory at the 2023 Japan Masters on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in her badminton career.
Expressing her elation, Tunjung conveyed, “Words cannot capture the joy of securing my first BWF Super 500 champion title. I’m immensely happy and grateful for this achievement.” The official statement from the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) in Jakarta quoted her sentiments.
Highlights of Gregoria Mariska Tunjung vs. Chen Yufei in the 2023 Japan Masters final:
Acknowledging the support she received, both direct and indirect, Tunjung expressed gratitude to those who played a role in her journey. She specifically highlighted her appreciation after defeating China’s Chen Yu Fei in the women’s singles final, with a remarkable 21-12, 21-12 scoreline over 40 minutes.
This victory not only brought personal satisfaction but also contributed to the pride of the Indonesian badminton team, as it stood as the sole champion title claimed by the team in the tournament.
Tunjung sees this accomplishment as a new record in her career and believes it will serve as motivation for future triumphs. She remarked, “I am very grateful for the win I achieved today. This win is so meaningful for my endeavors to move forward.”
Reflecting on her strategy against the world’s No. 3 women’s singles player, Tunjung emphasized the importance of maintaining composure during the match. Her heightened motivation stemmed from rigorous practice, enabling her to face a formidable opponent with confidence.
In a gesture of appreciation, Tunjung dedicated the title not only to herself but also to her family, parents, boyfriend, coaches, PBSI, and all those who supported her. She emphasized the collective effort, stating, “This title exists because of them, too.”
In a hard-fought all-Chinese women’s doubles final, the sixth-seeded pair of Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu emerged victorious after overcoming Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning with a scoreline of 12-21, 21-12, 21-17.
China continued its dominance in the mixed doubles final, where the top-seeded duo Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong triumphed over the third-seeded pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping with a score of 25-23, 21-9.
