Ode To Latitude
The SEA Games (4)

The Indonesian team joined the supporters, watching the Thailand women's team match against Singapore. Semifinals always have a different aura. Both teams are chasing each other's points, although the Singaporean team knows their opponents are always perfect during qualifying not dropping their mentality to fight.

Tribune rakes blue when Singapore women's doubles team unable to survive in rubber game. One of the Singapore team partners did a poor jumping smash that could not be denied, landed wrong resulting in his leg sprain, sprain, and, bandages should be bandaged and repeatedly the medical team sprayed painkiller ethylchloride to relieve severe pain in his right leg.

Eight more points to victory, Singapore players could not go further. Injuries make the movement of one player limited so that almost the entire field on the cover of his partner. Guilt was clearly on his face. Opponents take advantage of that misfortune to add points. The ball continues to be hit towards him and the score goes through without a fight. Before the opponent's numbers ended, the Singapore women's doubles surrendered.

All spectators stood and applauded, paying tribute as well as appreciation for the Singapore women's double hard work. The player's cry can not be dammed, the cry haru, sad, sick, clearly illustrated in the look of his eyes that I love. He was pushed in a wheelchair out of the field.

Regata watched the game in their home television room accompanied by Arimbi and Mia who studied while stealing glances, watching the game.

“Hopefully the player does not why-napa” said Regata, his eyes glazed.

“What injury anyway? Long time no, about the treatment?” ask Arimbi curious.

“Depends, if only an ordinary ankle is not possible until his expression so” happened during college he was taught to measure the pain scale of the facial features of the patient is easy for him to distinguish severe pain, and pain is very heavy.

“It may be his ligaments, bones or muscles” Regata said.

“The treatment can be long depending on the results of the examination. After treatment there must be a recovery period and re-adjustment in the field, until normal training” Regata tries to explain to Arimbi what he knows.

Regata could not imagine the fate of the athlete and his partner. If you are lucky to be back in the competition after a long break, if you are not lucky once twice to be able to retire early let alone a career of female athletes is fairly short, not because after marriage they are not allowed to work, but because after marriage they are not allowed to work, but the priorities of life that change with the decision of their household. The partner must also be prepared for the worst possible, declining performance, changing partners, adjusting with new partners and having to pursue re-ranking.

“If for example the other one is injured how mah?” tanya Mia stared at the television screen that had changed to the next match.

“The pair also took a break or debuted with a new partner. It could be junior, it could be senior. Can remain the women's doubles or while playing mixed doubles depending on the athlete's agreement, the same coach the badminton association” said Regata chewed a piece of potato chips.

Mia was amazed by Regata's reply. Regata's knowledge of badminton is quite a lot, why not from the first they sit watching and talking with Mia thought.

“You know, your mom is a badminton fan. Your name Mia is taken from the name of the single player daughter Mia Audina Tjiptawan Indonesian women's doubles who became the winner of Indonesia. He was 14 years old, the youngest Thomas cup member in the history of”, said Arimbi.

“Uber Ma Cup if daughter, Thomas cup new team putra” correction Regata.

“hehe” Arimbi laughs shyly hearing Regata recite her words.

Mia's lips are rounded. He knew the legend of that one but never thought his name was inspired there. It is true that the name is a prayer that his mother indirectly prayed for him so that he carved the same achievement with one of the Indonesian legends.

The match went on, although spectators who knew the strength of both teams could already predict the outcome of the match but they still cheered the Singapore team encouraging that they were not fighting alone. Vietnamese audiences kept chanting Singapore's name over and over again. Thailand won the match 3-1. One Singapore figure was obtained through the number one Singapore women's singles in the opening match.

“Today you have a workout?” ask Regata in between the ads waiting for the turn of the women's team to compete.

“There are afternoon, I go alone Om Bobby” said Mia.

Regata frowned, Om Bobby never showed up at home since that day from where Mia knew the whereabouts of the man who was his father's right hand.

Regata is relieved because later in the afternoon he can sit back and watch Lintang and his friends face the Singapore men's team.

Annisa and friends headed to the field followed by a cameraman who highlighted the women's team's yel-yel. One by one their faces are recorded on camera, especially the face of Annisa who looks fiery convincing his team, losing or winning they still have a chance to get a medal.

“Semangat Indonesia” shouted Latitude.

His friends on the men's team laughed at him, Lintang who always prevented them from being noisy while watching today became the first to shout. Lintang understands the burden that Annisa bears, as the most senior in the Annisa women's team has no focus on providing input other than her coach. More comfortable for him to tell his complaints with Lintang, fellow team captains who have been willing to wake up since midnight to exchange ideas about the opponents they will face.

Annisa served first against Farah Jayalalitha, both of whom played in slow tempo. This tournament was the first time they met. Annisa has been watching an important tournament that Farah has won to measure the strength of the opponents she plays while analyzing the opponent's game and field conditions. The two ended the first half by chasing each other for points. Malaysia's first-half interval 21-19 lead into the second half both lost most of the energy in the first half. Annisa starts playing fast and doesn't let Farah's punches add to the numbers.

The change in tempo of the game made Farah a hassle. Each player has their own style and habits that are difficult to control, especially when they are nervous, they easily lose the feeling of the game and tend to make their own mistakes. Annisa has experienced it throughout her career so she can understand Farah's shock.

Annisa pulled out her mainstay punch in the second half. Techniques he did not use in the first half were issued all in the second half. The second half ended in Annisa's victory, 21-12. Figures far enough to make Annisa try the same trick in the round when but not enough to make Farah lag behind. After the interval Farah refocused on the game. Annisa quickly read the situation and immediately returned to a slow tempo, draining more of the opponent's energy. She has been determined to take Indonesia to the final, imagining the women's team being in the final making her heart pump blood twice as fast, draining oxygen to his brain as soon as he saw as if victory was in front of his eyes and continued to deal dangerous blows. The pain in his palm, the wetness and the smell of iron coming out from behind his socks had gone unnoticed anymore all he wanted was to win. He ran to the left and prevented the ball from entering the area, hard work and strong mentality made him end the game with a score of 26-24, Indonesia's first victory was greeted by a standing cheering crowd.

The second match of Indonesia's number one women's doubles face a newly defeated Malaysian pair of world champions at the All England tournament. The performance of the opponent did not make Elfi Yolavita and Trini Sofia Arum daunted. The two couples play slick, defense and attack they have reached the next level no doubt they are nicknamed Duo Titan by the landlords.

The second victory of Indonesia again made the audience excited to shout “habisin, selusin” which means asking the third player to sweep the score to 3-0. Annisa could not give his message to the third player. The skin of his feet thickened, plus the continuous friction without being absent in every game made the friction wound even bigger, the top of the game rubber today made the friction on the soles of his feet become open wounds, the, his skin was lifted almost as loose as blood poured out of the wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

The first person latitude Koh Toni reported about Annisa's condition. Latitude desire to hospital prevented Koh Toni. Koh Toni reminded Lintang to focus on the afternoon match, no matter what happens Lintang can not think of personal feelings and affairs.

“Ayo Gita selumin” shouted Latitude on Gita Brahmin Budiono, single coating of the women's team. Four more points Indonesia will win but Gita continues to make small mistakes.

“Come Git, you can” Bisma follow-up yelling.

“Gita I love you” shouted one of the supporters. The audience laughed at the shout, the tense atmosphere turned into a joke even Gita smiled hearing the screams that were out of who. Gita is more flexible and calm facing critical points. One flick serve and one lucky ball drove Indonesia to the semifinals. The princess team jumped the guardrail running to hug Gita.

“Yes, win” Regata and Mia screaming in joy. Tomorrow Indonesia will play Thailand in the final, hopefully this one-eyed team managed to silence the inner haters of Regata.

“What are the circumstances of Nisa Koh” tanya Latitude. He took the time to call Koh Toni before the game.

“Have been handled, again rest. Later finished landing, you can look here” Koh Toni ended the phone call.

Indonesia against Singapore became a thrilling match Lintang the only senior in the Indonesian team while the opposing team dropped in full force. Lintang lost in the initial match made the expectations of Indonesian supporters changed from confident to champion to pessimistic to win. Lintang opponents are resilient and good at utilizing the situation while Lintang compete in a hurry to turn off the ball.

Regata screeched loudly when the first game ended Lintang's frustrated face made her heart full.

The next match of men's doubles brought Indonesia equalised. Febri's third match was able to provide resistance in two direct games points 2-1 for Indonesia. The fourth match of the junior men's doubles performed to the maximum with the demands of having to win. The demand did not make them mentally disturbed but fiery attract the attention of the audience while proving that the Indonesian doubles always scored new champions and will become a men's doubles giant.  

That day Lintang felt his mind and energy drained. Fortunately Indonesia won, and Annisa has been handled well. Tomorrow Lintang is still struggling, Coach Arifin demands it to maintain performance. Their opponent tomorrow is Malaysia, their second meeting is predicted to be more fierce than the first because tomorrow is a fight for revenge.

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