PROFILE

Not many athletes can be great in both sports and their studies. One of these is Taiwanese female single badminton athlete Tai Tzu-ying, who was crowned champion of the Indonesia Open 2022 in Gelora Bung Karno Sports Hall, Senayan, Jakarta, on 19 June: she just earned her Doctorate in Sport Science from Taiwan University on 9 June, having earned her Master’s from the same university four years ago. 

Liliyana “Butet” Natsir is one of those athletes worthy of being called a “legend” in Indonesia: she won four world titles and the gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Only the best and toughest can do something like that. Therefore, it is no surprise to us all that the Badminton World Federation (“BWF”) granted her the Hall of Fame Award on Saturday, 18 June at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Hall, Senayan, Jakarta right before the 2022 East Ventures Indonesia Open semifinals – even though it’s the awardee herself who claimed to be surprised! 

Sad news today: badminton lovers worldwide can no longer enjoy Greysia Polii’s action on the court. The Indonesian Women’s Doubles athlete has confirmed her intention to retire. 

Indonesia is in mourning: one of our prime religious intellectuals, a spiritual teacher of the nation, a fighter for pluralism has gone home, to his eternal resting place. 

These are some brands of the big, macho, “muscle” cars from good old US of A. When you think of “American cars”, it’s quite likely that muscle cars come first into your mind: two-door vehicles whose strong performance is powered by huge V8 engines. They are a huge part of American pop culture thanks to Hollywood movies, and literally have cults of its lovers across the country – and across the world. 

President Director of PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero), Riki Firmandha Ibrahim, visited the victims of the recent work accident at his Company, accompanied by the Geo Dipa HC Manager and other members of Management, at the KRT Setjonegoro Regional General Hospital, Wonosobo, on Monday, 14 March to check on their condition.

The Head of the West Sumatra Regional Leadership Council of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerakan Indonesia Raya – “Gerindra”) Party, Andre Rosiade, expressed his appreciation that the organizers of the Pertamina MotoGP Grand Prix of Indonesia have successfully held the event in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara, 18-20 March. “I thank everyone who has worked so hard to ensure the smoothness and success of MotoGP this year at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, West Nusa Tenggara. National racing teams and racers, as well as all Indonesian citizens, watch and support the event happily,” he stated in Jakarta, on Monday, 21 March.

Bagas Maulana/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri’s journey in the All England 2022 badminton tournament ended up as sweet as any fairy tale. They are confirmed as Champions right at their debut, after having decisively defeated their seniors/second top doubles Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan on Sunday, 20 March 2022. During the final match at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Bagas/ Fikri won a straight game, with 21-19, 21-13. It is a perfect end to their amazing journey, wherein they surprisingly took down strong opponents that included world champions Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi (Japan) and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (Indonesia).

Kate Winslet has been named best actress in a limited series/movie made for television at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards.

The realization of investment in the field of waste management with environmentally-friendly technology has officially been implemented, between PT Oligo Infra Swarna Nusantara (Oligo) and the Tangerang City Government, represented by Tangerang Mayor Arief R. Wismansyah and witnessed by Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan on Wednesday, 9 March 2022. This was achieved after a comprehensive process undertaken by all stakeholders, and also through public outreach, positively welcomed by the people of the city of Tangerang.

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, children’s toy manufacturer Mattel has named Saur Marlina Manurung, more famously known as “Butet Manurung” as “Barbie Role Model 2022”. Butet Manurung will thus receive a One of A Kind (OAAK) personalized doll resembling her – it’s the only one of its kind in the world. Launched in 2015, the Barbie Role Model is an initiative that consistently celebrates the profile and stories of great women around the world, as an inspiration for girls to pursue their dreams, reminding them they can be anything they want.