Talking about chances in Indonesia's men's singles, we surely must not be pessimistic with the abilities of Indonesian players performing at the BIO 2017 battlefield. Although it cannot be ruled out that other players of other countries are far more superior to Indonesian players. However, anything is possible.
In the first round of BIO 2017 men's singles, Indonesia have put three of their players a Pelatnas (national training center) player Tommy Sugiarto, and two Pelatnas players Jonatan Christie and Anthony Sinisuka Ginting. Unfortunately, the unfortunate side is on Tommy and Ginting in the earlier round.
That's because in the first round, Tommy must face the world's number one from Malaysia, Lee Chong Wei. They have met for 14 times. However, Tommy has had bad records; Tommy has never won any of those matches against the three time Olympic.
However, Tommy should be able to make use of the momentum and make it as a motivation booster so that he can finish what he hasn't been able to finish; beating Lee for the first time in front of the home crowds.
Below Lee and Tommy, there is Ginting who will face China's Qiao Bin. They met once at 2015 Korea Masters. Ginting then had to kneel down after defeated by Qiao, 14-21 and 16-21.
Looking at his performance statistics, Ginting has a positive tendency, especially he just stunned Denmark's best player, Viktor Axelsen, in the elimination round at Sudirman Cup 2017 not long ago, this makes him possess a good ammunition and a good chance to pay back his defeat from Qiao and qualify to the next round. If he is able to go to the second round, Ginting will take on the winner between Lee and Tommy.
Ginting and Lee have never met, and if they are to fight in the second round, that will feature a battle from different generation that is worth to watch. Unlike Tommy, Ginting, the son of a badminton living legend Icuk Sugiarto, has met twice. Two victories has been recorded by Tommy in those two matches. And if they are comeback to fight, it is a match that cannot be missed.
Whereas Jonatan, he will be few stripes below Ginting and he will take in India's, Ajay Jayaram. Jonatan himself has fat chance to qualify to the second round.
Because in their first encounter at Thomas Cup 2016, Jonatan won 21-14 and 21-12. However, Jonatan still have to be cautious.
And if he is able to go to the second round, a tough road will await for him. It is either Chen Long from China who is also a Rio Olympic gold medalist or Germany's Marc Zwiebler will be Jonatan's opponent in the second round.
Meanwhile, the other two Indonesian players from Pelatnas, Ihsan Maulana Mustofa and a non Pelatnas player, Sony Dwi Kuncoro will have to fight from the qualifying round.
