Indonesia has new Olympic heroes in Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu, who today wrote themselves into the history books by becoming the first Indonesian badminton pairing to win the gold medal in the women’s doubles category.
And it seems, everywhere you look, the nation is so elated that we can’t help but cry tears of joy for their incredible achievement.
The unseeded Polii/Rahayu defied the odds to get to the final of the competition in Tokyo and smash China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan in straight sets.
It’s no exaggeration to say that their victory united the nation and offered us all a moment of delightful respite from all the sorrow the country has been going through — mostly from COVID-19 — lately.
MERINDING BANGET😭😭😭😭😭 CONGRATS GANDRA PUTRI🎉🎉LEGENDS MAKE HISTORY🥇#GreyApFinalTokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/g5nl83cuUF
— dakbalB (@dreamin_chuu) August 2, 2021
LOVE THEM SM SOBS🇮🇩🥇 #GreyApFinalTokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/oj3eGFUpNc
— kkkk?! studying (@marjoerrry) August 2, 2021
Two moments in particular stood out as tearjerkers, namely Polii’s unrestrained happy tears right after securing the victory, as well as the pair crying on the podium as they were saluting the Indonesian flag during the national anthem.
Thank you for the gold medal, the long wait, huhu crying too. #Gold#greyapfinaltokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/oX1zJtGMzH
— baety (@frhnl20) August 2, 2021
You know how touched I was when they played 'Indonesia Raya' there and look at our athletes, we're so proud of you both!!!
Makasi banyak buat kerja kerasnya 🇮🇩🥇🎉#GreyApFinalTokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/bhXy5f2aL0
— Dhea 🎀 (Check pinned) hiatus (@banghonghwa) August 2, 2021
This pic make me so emotional 😭😭
She deserve this gold medal after a long journey she passed
You're doing great #GreysiaPolii
Congratulation Queen 👑#greyapfinaltokyo2020 #GreyAp #Gold pic.twitter.com/9ZUea0f4v3— ndah^^ ⋈ 🐺🌳🐥 (@IMNamYo) August 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/decacsa/status/1422098407242407937?s=20
Olympic gold medals are hard to come by for Indonesia, so naturally even President Joko Widodo congratulated the pair on Twitter, saying that their victory is an early present ahead of the country’s Aug. 17 Independence Day.
Ganda putri Indonesia Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu menyabet medali emas Olimpiade Tokyo dalam pertandingan yang alot dan mendebarkan, siang ini.
Kemenangan ini menjadi kado ulang tahun kemerdekaan Indonesia. Selamat dan terima kasih Greysia/Apriyani!
Foto: @Olympics pic.twitter.com/4ZJmcoa0tW
— Joko Widodo (@jokowi) August 2, 2021
Thank you for doing us proud, Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu. Here’s hoping for the best outcomes for Indonesia’s remaining athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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