VOINews, Jakarta: Indonesia's women's singles player, Mutiara Ayu Puspitasari, has reached the finals of the 2024 Indonesia International Challenge badminton tournament in Surabaya. Competing at the Jatim Expo on Saturday, Mutiara secured her spot in the final after defeating Malaysia’s Karupathevan Letshanaa with a decisive score of 21-17, 21-10 in the semifinals.
The world-ranked No. 97 player expressed satisfaction with her performance, highlighting her successful execution of pre-game strategies. By applying an aggressive approach, the 2021 Slovenia International champion was able to maintain control of the match, clinching victory in just 37 minutes.
“The match went according to plan. I prepared for the semifinals by discussing strategies with my coach, and I could see my opponent struggled and felt less comfortable, allowing me to take the offensive from the start,” Mutiara stated in a release from Indonesia's Badminton Association, PBSI.
This win sets up a final showdown for Mutiara, who also claimed the title at the Kapal Api Indonesia International Series in 2022. She will face Thailand’s Yataweemin Ketklieng, who previously defeated Malaysia's Ling Ching Wong in a hard-fought battle, scoring 13-21, 21-17, 21-16.
Mutiara is determined to deliver her best performance in the final, aiming for her first title win of the year. Earlier in 2024, she reached the final of the International Challenge in Thailand but fell short against Japan’s Riko Gunji with scores of 14-21, 15-21.
“I’m thrilled to reach the final,” Mutiara said. “I hope to play my best and improve further tomorrow.”
Reflecting on the upcoming final, the 2023 Badminton Asia Junior Championships winner noted, “Tomorrow's game will come down to readiness. I want to be prepared from the first rally to achieve the best result.”/ANTARA/VOI
