Indonesia’s unseeded pair make history with first women’s doubles badminton gold

Unseeded Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu beat former world champions CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan of China to record a hugely unexpected victory and win their country’s first ever gold medal in the event.

The Indonesian’s beat China’s number four seeds, 21-19, 21-15 in the final.

“I’m speechless right now. This is how it feels to get the gold medal. You cannot describe it in words,” said Polii.

“Twenty years ago when I was 13 years old I knew that Indonesia hadn’t made any history in women’s doubles. I know that I was born to be a badminton player, and I have that fate. I was 13 years old, and I really wanted to make history for Indonesia in women’s doubles,” she added.

“I cannot believe that this is what I’ve got,” Rahayu added. “I really did not think I would have made it this far because all I’ve ever thought about is how to get through, how to keep on pushing.

“Every challenge that I’ve faced, (I’ve said) how can I turn this around, how can I get back up? I really did force myself to get this far and do the best that I can. I really want to thank God and my partner.”