Indonesia's Padel Pair Targets Bronze After Semifinal Defeat

RRI.CO.ID, Nagoya - Indonesia's padel duo Novela Putria and Beatrice Gumulya fell short in the women's doubles semifinals at the 2026 Asian Games, ending their bid for a place in the final.

The Indonesian pair lost 0-2 to Japan's Saki Tsukamoto and Kae Tokumoto at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.

Despite the defeat, Novela and Beatrice remain in contention for bronze.

Competing in front of the home crowd brought its own challenges, with the Indonesian pair admitting they struggled to break through their opponents' strong play in the early stages of the match.

"Sometimes the opponents simply play better than we do. To be honest, that made us a little frustrated at the beginning," Beatrice said in an official statement on Friday.

However, the pair kept fighting until the end despite falling behind. "We kept battling and trying to find ways to win points," Beatrice added.

Novela echoed her partner's remarks, saying the match demanded exceptional stamina and mental resilience.

Long rallies, sometimes involving dozens of shots in a single point, tested both players physically and mentally. The home crowd's support also gave the Japanese pair an added boost. "They were playing at home, so they felt more comfortable," Novela said.

Despite the loss, Novela said she remained proud of what the pair had achieved. "Regardless of the result, I'm proud to be here and proud of Kak Bea as well. We gave everything we had, but the outcome wasn't what we hoped for," she said.

The pair have now shifted their focus to the bronze-medal playoff against the Philippines' Danna Abad and Josea Malazarte. "We're going to focus on the bronze-medal match. We don't want to let this opportunity slip away," Novela said.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Taufik Hidayat, who watched the match in person, also praised the pair's determination."Keep your spirits up, come back stronger tomorrow and hopefully achieve success," Taufik said. (Gusti Panji)