RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A semifinal defeat at the German Open 2026 has prompted Indonesian shuttler Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja to reflect on handling pressure, after she and her Singaporean partner fell short of reaching the final in the event.

Competing at the Westenergie Sporthalle on Saturday, February 28, 2026, the cross-border mixed doubles pair Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja /Hee Yong Kai were defeated by Denmark’s Mads Vestergaard /Christine Busch in straight games, 19-21, 16-21.

Despite the loss, Gloria said the experience offered an important lesson.

“Going forward we must learn to be calmer in situations like this,” Gloria said in a statement released by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) in Jakarta as quoted by Antara.

Gloria admitted that their performance did not unfold as planned.

“It felt beyond expectations. Compared to the previous days, today we were a bit less relaxed and less free in our play,” she said.

From the start of the match, the pair struggled to find momentum against the Danish duo, currently ranked 22nd in the world. Although they fought hard, the pressure limited their ability to develop their game.

“Maybe that’s what I felt most today, we couldn’t really enjoy the match like before,” Gloria added.

She emphasized the need for better composure in high-pressure moments, stronger on-court communication, and improved consistency in future tournaments.

In the opening game, Hee/Gloria trailed 9-11 at the interval but kept the gap close. After falling behind 11-15, they rallied to narrow the deficit to 18-19 and even level at 19-19. However, lapses at crucial points allowed Vestergaard/Busch to take the final two points and secure the first game 21-19.

The second game followed a similar pattern. Hee/Gloria were down 10-11 at the break and briefly equalized at 11-11. But three consecutive points from the Danes shifted the momentum. After a tight exchange to 13-15, four straight points pushed Vestergaard/Busch ahead 19-13. The Danish pair closed the match 21-16.

Hee Yong Kai said they had attempted a different strategy but were undone by unforced errors, while crediting their opponents’ effective tactics.

“We had difficulty getting out of pressure. It was tough today, but this will be a lesson for us moving forward,” he said.

Gloria’s exit leaves Indonesia with one remaining representative in the semifinals: women’s doubles pair Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi /Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, who are set to face China’s Li Yi Jing and Wang Yi Duo.

For Gloria and Hee, the semifinal run may have ended in disappointment, but the tournament has underscored the fine margins at elite level, and the importance of composure when titles are within reach. ***