Sorry for the length. Some condensed info about what’s going on around The Minions.
Some INA fans are suggesting that The Minions should shifted their concentration to BWC, some even said that they probably should ‘let IO and WTF go’ because of the lack of recovery time. Just several days after WTF + another long trip with its jetlag as well.
They’re so exhausted and for weeks Herry IP already said that Marcus/Kevin are so tired so he didn’t expect them to reach finals nor demand anything (but they somehow managed to, three times in a row). After the final yesterday, PBSI had a small appreciation event for the INA Thomas team, and a video phone caught a bit of Herry’s discussion with someone about The Minions (non verbatim): “But they bodies couldn’t… (inaudible words), their bodies are too exhausted.”
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Not only that, they went to The Sudirman Cup not even in their best form. Kevin was injured (shoulder and knee injuries), had some therapies and was only given lightened, adjusted training sessions. Herry said at that time that Kevin wouldn’t recovered even at the Thomas, maybe only in 70-80% condition. Apparently had some relapse so couldn’t play for INA vs TPE but could play again days after. And now he is already going on for months without proper rest and recovery time, played and played through multiple tournaments and finals.
Marcus also wasn’t in good form. During Thomas Herry said that he was ‘punya masalah pada kakinya’ (having problem with his legs) and was running out of gas so couldn’t participated for the final.
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Based on an interview with Kevin, WTF qualification is demanded by their sponsor(s) though, although I couldn’t remember if winning it is obligated or not. Plus it’s held in Indonesia. PBSI’s chairman publicly said that they have no target, but a PBSI personnel on Twitter hinted that there are actually pressures because the event is in Indonesia. I think that’s why the main team was sent to the Hylo open. For more qualification points. And now, with the lack of INA representative for WTF (only Greysia-Apriyani and The Minions are qualified so far, and maybe 1 more MD and/or if possible, 1 XD), pressures to perform well are definitely huge.
And I don’t think they would just ‘let go’ and wouldn’t do the maximum they can. They’re just not the type. Especially because for the last few tournaments, they’re always be the last INA MD left (with other sectors were underperforming/ have physical problems to boot). But the on going exhaustion can cripple them just like in the Denmark Open. After won their match, Bagas/Fikri even said that they’re surprised because they couldn’t beat The Minions during their training, not even once. But later, after some days of rest, Minions could beat other INA pairs again.
Also, the cyber bullying they got are severe whenever they lost, even in the final (sometimes, even if they won). Those nasty people also attack their family members and sometimes also friends. They just got bullied again yesterday, said that they humiliated INA and because of them, INA couldn’t even have one title. Should be disbanded, left Pelatnas or retired as an athlete. Flawed logic, because as we know it, they’re actually the only one who managed to reach the final (since semifinal, even). But others who lost before them got far less attack.
(Except maybe Praveen/Melati, because of the visible cold shoulder and their lack of communication. The usually patient Coach Nova was even very very disappointed and publicly admitted that there are problems between the two. Hopefully they can sort out whatever happened between them and get back to their best again.)
If The Minions lost early in IO and WTF, those bullies will be feasting. But on the other hand, they could get more day to rest.
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A hard year for them. Covid, lack of tournament for +1 year dull them, no warm-up matches with current international MDs before the OG, mental trauma after the Olympic, injuries and physical problems, and after they started to regain their battle senses, too tired to maximize their performance. And tournaments held in INA are usually with fast hall, but the current Bali hall is very slow with slow shuttle too, which is tiring them more and troubling many players. Yet still burdened by big responsibilities because so far they still could deliver even when underperforming.
I actually think that if The Minions were in a little bit better condition (e.g. more rest), they could won the DIM final. I hope they can preserve their energy well and free from injuries.
Let’s see what will happen in IO and WTF.