Jokowi: Indonesia, World will Miss Liliyana Natsir

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Jokowi or Jokowi said that Indonesia and the world will miss Liliyana Natsir or Butet following her retirement as a mixed doubles badminton player.

“Indonesia will really miss upon the retirement of Liliyana Natsir, Butet. Not only Indonesia but also the world,” said Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, January 29.

Jokowi said that Liliyana had won numbers of prestigious matches such as Olympic and All England during her career which the President deemed inspiration for junior athletes. Jokowi expected young badminton players could follow Liliyana’s steps.

The President then suggested Liliyana to giving motivation for badminton players in regions and demanding her to visit training clubs in regions.

Read also: Liliyana Natsir: I Retired in Peace

“Give motivation on what to do to achieve an achievement as Liliyana obtains,” Jokowi noted.

Jokowi and Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi today had a meeting session with Liliyana who recently retired being a badminton athlete. The 33-year-old woman asked Jokowi and Imam to take self-pictures after having a discussion for several minutes.

Indonesian mixed doubles queen officially retired after the last performance with Tontowi Ahmad at Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2019.

Liliyana Natsir secures almost all world’s champion with Tontowi Ahmad, such as three titles in a row from 2012-2014 at All England Badminton Championships, BWF World Championships Guangzhou in 2013 and Glasgow in 2017, Olympics 2017 in Rio de Janeiro. However, she fails to bring home a gold medal from the Asian Games.

Before partnering with Tontowi, Liliyana Natsir`s previous partner is Nova Widianto and win the world champion in 2005 and 2007, as well as a silver medal in Olympics 2008 in Beijing, China.

FRISKI RIANA