Gregoria Mariska Tunjung contributed the first medal for Indonesia at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Gregoria’s medal is also the only Indonesian medal (so far) at this Olympics.
This result also ended the 16-year medal drought from the last women’s singles number obtained by Maria Kristin.
Indonesia’s women’s singles have contributed five medals to Olympic history: one gold, one silver, and three bronze medals.
Susy Susanti became the most successful women’s singles player, winning one gold medal (1992) and a bronze medal (1996). Mia Audina won one silver medal in 1996, and Maria Kristin and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung won two bronze Olympic medals.
Gregoria was confirmed to win the bronze medal after her potential opponent, Carolina Marin from Spain, was forced to withdraw from the semifinals due to a knee injury.
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Marin’s withdrawal came in the middle of the semifinal match, during the second set against China’s He Bing Jiao on Sunday, August 4. Despite leading 21-14, 10-8, Marin was forced to withdraw due to her injury, thereby losing the match and the chance to compete in the third-place match.
Marin was forced to withdraw despite being ahead 21-14, 10-8. She lost and could not appear for tomorrow’s third-place match.
The bronze Olympic medal automatically went to Gregoria. In sports competitions, happiness and sadness are divided into two sides. That day, sadness came to Marin’s side. Gregoria could have celebrated the moment’s happiness but chose another path.
“I didn’t have time to see her decision (to withdraw). After I found out, I was confused. It’s really wrong if I’m happy with other people’s suffering. I’m grateful to get a medal, but not happy. It feels like something is wrong because I didn’t compete (for bronze),” she told Kompas.
