Indonesia's Mayla Advances to Round of 32 at Pontianak International Challenge

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s women’s singles player Mayla Cahya Afilian Pratiwi advanced to the round of 32 at the Polytron Pontianak International Challenge 2026 after defeating India’s Tanvi Reddy Andluri in straight sets, 21–16, 22–20, in a 42‑minute match.

The round of 64 clash took place on Court 1 at GOR Terpadu, Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Mayla dominated the first game, but Tanvi forced a tight battle in the second, pushing the match into setting.

Mayla explained that her strong start came from careful observation before the match. “In the first game I managed to control the court quite well because I had trained here yesterday and already knew the conditions," she said after the match.

"My opponent’s strength was her sharp attacks, so I tried to limit the high balls by playing faster,” she added.

In the second game, however, Mayla admitted she struggled after her knee was hit, causing pain. Despite the discomfort, she stayed focused during crucial points.

“After the interval my knee was hit and it really bothered me because of the pain. I was trailing 18–20, but managed to score four points in a row because I ignored the pain and kept focusing on my playing pattern,” she explained.

For Mayla, the Polytron Pontianak International Challenge 2026 is a vital step toward bigger goals. “This tournament is very important for me, not only as preparation for the Junior World Championships but also to improve my ranking,” she said. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)