JABAR EKSPRES – Indonesian mixed doubles pair Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari managed to advance to the last 16 of the Indonesia Open 2023 after overthrowing French representatives Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue through two straight games 21-14 and 21-15.

The match on court one at Istora Senayan Jakarta, Wednesday, took place quite quickly with a duration of 38 minutes.

“I’m grateful to be given the victory and there were no injuries in the match. We are grateful,” Rinov said at the press conference after the match.

In the first game, Rinov/Pitha were left far behind 1-4, but soon caught up and equalized 5-5. The match continued with the Indonesian pair winning point after point until finally winning the first game interval 11-9.

Rinov/Pitha’s confidence skyrocketed by widening the points gap over Gicquel/Delrue with 18-11. The French mixed doubles then still tried to collect numbers in a row until 14-20.

Read Also: Kento Momota Says He Has not Fully Recovered from Injury

However, in the condition of critical points, Rinov/Pitha did not let their guard down and gave an opening to finally win the first game with a score of 21-14.

The second game was quite fierce, with the two pairs scrambling each other and the difference in points was only two points adrift. Gicquel/Delrue, however, tried hard to give their points a gap and had an 11-7 lead over the Indonesian pair.

After the second game interval, Rinov/Pitha, accompanied by shouts of encouragement from the fans at Istora, managed to win points quickly and tactically to equalize 12-12, to lead quite far 17-13.

Rinov/Pitha grew in confidence and prevented the French pair from gaining points to lead 20-14 and finally closed the second game with a final score of 21-15.

With this victory, Rinov/Pitha will later face the winner of the match between Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing (Malaysia) against Gregory Mairs/Jenny Moore (England) in the second round of the Super 1000 BWF level tournament.