Greysia Polii

Greysia Polii (born 11 August 1987) is an Indonesian badminton player specializing in doubles. Polii was a women's doubles gold medalist at the 2014 Asian Games and 2019 Southeast Asian Games. She also won three bronze medals at the World Championships in 2015, 2018 and 2019. Polii was a member of BWF Athletes' Commission to represent the needs and views of athletes to the BWF council and committees from 2013–2017.
Having started her career at the Jaya Raya in Jakarta, she later was selected to join the national team in 2003. Polii represented her country in 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, also featured in the Indonesian women's winning team at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games. She reached a career high as world number 2 by the BWF in the women's doubles alongside Nitya Krishinda Maheswari.
Polii's achievements began when she was paired with Jo Novita, winning a Grand Prix title, two silver medals at the Southeast Asian Games in 2005 and 2007, and a bronze in 2005 Asian Championships. Together with Maheswari, she had collected 2 Superseries titles, 3 Grand Prix titles, a gold at the 2014 Asian Games, a silver at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games, and bronze medals at the 2015 World and 2016 Asian Championships. She made a new partnership with the youngster Apriyani Rahayu in 2017. Together with Rahayu, she won her first women's doubles gold at the Southeast Asian Games in 2019, and claimed her first home soil title at the 2020 Indonesia Masters.
Early life.
Greysia Polii was born in Jakarta to Willy Polii and Evie Pakasi, both of Minahasa descent. She is the third of five siblings. She lived in Jakarta until her dad passed away when she was only 2, and moved to Manado, where she spent her childhood. She was influenced to play bandminton by her sister and former national player Deyana Lomban. Her talent was already apparent by the time she was six years old. Recognizing her talent, she and her mother moved back to Jakarta in 1995 for better training and a chance to develop her career as a badminton player, joining the Jaya Raya Jakarta club. She idolized Susi Susanti and Zhang Ning.
At the club, her coach Retno Kustijah noticed her talent as a doubles player, and when Polii was 14, she made the decision to switch from singles to doubles player. She made it to the national team in 2003.
Career.
2003–2005: Early career and National Championships title.
Starting her career as a women's and mixed doubles player, Polii began to show her achievements at the age of 16. Partnered with Heni Budiman, they reached the semi-finals stage in the 2003 Malaysia Satellite tournament. As a national team player, she won her first National Championships title with Budiman. The duo defeated East Kalimantan pair Indarti Issolina and Angeline de Pauw with rubber-games 8–15, 15–8, 15–7.
In 2004, Polii helped the national junior team win the girls' team bronze at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships and mixed team bronze at the World Junior Championships. She also claimed the World Junior silver in the mixed doubles with Muhammad Rijal, and the bronze medal in the girls' doubles with Budiman. She made her debut with the national team at the Uber Cup in 2004, where the team finished in the quarter-finals. Her best achievements in individual events during the year were reaching the quarter-finals at the Chinese Taipei Open and the Malaysia Open.
In 2005, Polii won the bronze medals at the Asian Junior Championships in the girls' team and doubles (with Heni Budiman). In March, she and Budiman finished as the semi-finalists in Swiss Open. Due to the hip injury suffered by Budiman at the Swiss Open, Polii made a new partnership with her senior Jo Novita in the beginning of 2005, and the duo won the bronze at the Asian Championships, also silver at the Southeast Asian Games. At the World Grand Prix event, the Polii-Novita partnership were the semi-finalists at the Singapore and Hong Kong Open. Polii helped Indonesia reaching in to the final stage of Sudirman Cup, but the team lost 0–3 to China.
2006–2008: World Grand Prix title.
In 2006, Polii began her season competing at the All England Open. Together with Jo Novita, they lost in the second round to the third seeds from China, Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen, in straight games. In May, Polii won her first IBF World Grand Prix title at the 2006 Philippines Open partnered with Novita. In the final they beat their compatriots Endang Nursugianti and Rani Mundiasti in straight games 21–16, 21–13. She also paired with her mixed doubles junior partner Muhammad Rijal, losing in the semi-finals to the eventual champions from Thailand, Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam. At the Indonesia Open held in Surabaya, Polii's pace was stopped by Zhao Tingting both in the women's and mixed doubles. In June, Polii reached in to the semi-finals in the mixed doubles and quarter-finals in the women's doubles at the Singapore Open. On the East Asian tour held in July–August, her best achievements were being finalists at the Korea Open. She and Novita defeated by Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen with a score of 10–21, 11–21. Together with Novita, she qualified to compete at the World Championships held in Madrid. The duo were defeated in the third round to first seeded and eventual champion from China Gao Ling and Huang Sui. Ranked as world number 10 in the women's doubles with Novita, Polii was ousted in the second round of the Japan Open both in the women's and mixed doubles. In the mixed doubles with Rijal, they lost to two-times Olympic champion Zhang Jun and Gao Ling in a rubber game 16–21, 22–20, 7–21. In November, the second seeded Polii-Novita finished in the semi-finals of Denmark Open defeated by Polish pair Kamila Augustyn and Nadieżda Kostiuczyk in a close rubber-games 13–21, 21–19, 19–21. In December, she represented her country at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, but failed to contribute any points to the team, where Indonesia women's team fell in the repechage to the semi-finals stage. Due to injury suffered by Novita at the matches against Malaysia in the group stage, Polii was paired with Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth in the individual event, but was upset in the second round to Japanese pair Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna. She ended the 2006 season standing as world number 9 in the women's doubles.
Polii opened the 2007 season by playing at the Malaysia Open with new partner Vita Marissa. The duo advanced to the final, but unable to defeat the three times World Champion Gao Ling and Huang Sui, although they forced the Chinese pair to play a deciding game. Seeing that this new couple had good prospects, the women's doubles coach Aryono Miranat continued their partnership. In the following tournaments, although they did not win a title, the pair managed to become semi-finalists at the Swiss Open and quarter-finalists at the All England and Singapore Open. In Switzerland, she also finished as the finalist in the mixed doubles with Muhammad Rijal. In June, she helped Indonesia finish second to China in the Sudirman Cup. In July, after Jo Novita recovered from an injury, the duo teamed up again and participated in the Thailand Open, China Masters, and Philippines Open. Their best results were when she and Novita reached the semi-finals in the Philippines. In the quarter-finals, they were able to beat the third seeds from China, Yang Wei and Zhao Tingting, in close straight games 25–23, 24–22.
In August, Polii played at the World Championships in the women's and mixed doubles. In the second round of women's doubles, she had to retire from the tournament due to an injury to her right knee muscle ligament. On the Europe tour in October–November, her best result was a semi-finals in the French Open. At the National Championships held in Solo, teamed up with Novita, Polii successfully defended the title she won two years ago with Heni Budiman. In December, she featured in the Indonesian women's winning team at the Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, and won her second women's doubles silver at the Games.
In a half-year of the 2008 season, together with her partners Jo Novita and Muhammad Rijal, Polii did not have satisfactory results, as her best achievements during the year were being a women's doubles quarter-finalist in the German, All England, Indonesia, and Asian Championships. She was also a mixed doubles quarter-finalist in Korea, Germany, and India. In May, Polii helped Indonesia reach the final of the Uber Cup held in Jakarta, where the team finished as the runner-up. Polii later teamed up with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari in the women's doubles and with Flandy Limpele in the mixed doubles. Her best results with her new partner was as a women's doubles semi-finalist in the Denmark Open, defeating the 7th seeds Cheng Shu and Zhao Yunlei in the second round, and finishing as a mixed doubles quarter-finalist in the Japan Open and China Masters. Despite not being paired-up with Novita in the remaining of the 2008 tournaments, they were qualified to compete at the inaugural Superseries Masters Finals held in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The duo finished in the semi-finals, where they were defeated by their compatriots Lilyana Natsir and Vita Marissa in straight games 19–21, 17–21.
2009–2012: National Championships double crowned, Olympic Games black card.
In 2009, Polii focused the season by playing only in the women's doubles with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari. Even though she fell in the early stage of Europe tour in All England and Swiss Open, she reached in to the finals of Singapore Open, she beat the world number one Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty from Malaysia in the quarter-finals, also ninth-placed Lena Frier Kristiansen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl from Denmark in the semi-finals. In May, she alongside Indonesia team finished as the semi-finalists in Sudirman Cup held in Guangzhou. Polii and Maheswari played at the World Championships in Hyderabad, India, as 13th seeded. Their journey at the championships stopped in the third round to the 2008 Olympic gold medalists, the 5th seeded Du Jing and Yu Yang in straight games 20–22, 12–21. She later managed to reach the semi-finals in Japan and French Open, but was beaten by Chinese pair Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli in both tournaments. In December, Polii participated at the Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos. She won the silver medal in the women's team, and as second seeded in the individual women's doubles event, she and Maheswari had a bye in the first round, but their pace stopped by young Thai pair Savitree Amitrapai and Vacharaporn Munkit in the quarter-finals. As a pair with Maheswari, she once ranked in the top 10 of the BWF ranking.
In January 2010, Polii crowned double title at the 2009 National Championships, winning the women's doubles with Meiliana Jauhari, and the mixed doubles with Tontowi Ahmad. As a new pair, the Polii–Jauhari partnership were considered successful at the Super Series stage, they were the semi-finalists in Singapore Open; quarter-finalists in All England, Indonesia Open, and China Masters. As for the Grand Prix Gold event, the pair were the finalists in the Macau and Indonesia Grand Prix Gold. She also was the quarter-finalists at the Asian Championships both in the women's doubles with Jauhari and the mixed doubles with Ahmad, and part of the national team that won the bronze medal at the Uber Cup and Asian Games. At the end of the season, she was ranked as women's doubles world number 9 in the BWF World ranking, and number 8 in the Super Series ranking, made her able to compete at the Super Series Finals in Taipei, but did not advance to the semi-final, after placed third in the group stage.
In 2011, Polii alongside Meiliana Jauhari have not been able to win a title. Her best results at the Super Series event was the semi-finalists in India Open; also quarter-finalists in Singapore and Indonesia Open. In the second round of Indonesia Open, a Super Series Premier event, Polii received a yellow card by umpire, for delaying time during the close match against Ma Jin and Pan Pan. At the Grand Prix event, she was the finalists in Chinese Taipei Open; semi-finalists in Malaysia and Swiss Open. Together with Jauhari, she competed at the World Championships in London. The duo stopped in the quarter-finals to Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna, made their head-to-head record deficit to 0–4. Polii was part of the national team that won the bronze medal at the Sudirman Cup, where Indonesia finished in the semi-finals to Denmark with a score of 1–3.
In 2012, Polii started the season as the quarter-finalists in Korea Open Super Series Premier with her partner Meiliana Jauhari. She later had to defeat in the early round of some tournaments, including the Super Series event of Malaysia, All England, and India Open. In June, she reached the semi-finals of Indonesia and Singapore Open. She managed to reduce the head-to-head record against the Japanese pair Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna to 1–4, after she and Jauhari beat them in quarter-finals of Indonesia Open.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Polii and her partner Meiliana Jauhari, along with Jung Kyung-eun and Kim Ha-na, Ha Jung-eun and Kim Min-jung of South Korea, and Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of China were disqualified from the competition for "not using one's best efforts to win a match" and "conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport" following matches the previous evening during which they threw the match. Greysia Polii and her partner Meiliana Jauhari played against South Korea's Ha Jung-eun and Kim Min-jung. Indonesia filed an appeal to the case, but it was withdrawn.
2013–2015: First Grand Prix Gold, Super Series, and Asian Games champion.
In 2013, Polii started the season with Meiliana Jauhari, but could not give a good performance, after defeated in the initial round of Korea and Malaysia Open. Polii later paired with youngster Anggia Shitta Awanda, the silver medalists at the 2011 World Junior Championships. Polii-Awanda partnerships did not last long, since the duo could not bonded their individual skills, and their best result in first 4 tournaments was the quarter-finalists in New Zealand Open. In March, Polii was elected to serve four-year terms as a member of BWF Athletes' Commission to represent the needs and views of athletes to the BWF council and committees.
In preparation for Indonesia team to Sudirman Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Polii tried to be paired again with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari. She and Maheswari finally made their debut in Kuala Lumpur, and managed to contribute one point for Indonesia in their inaugural match against India. At the second tournament for Polii and Maheswari after four years separated, she finally won her first Grand Prix Gold title in Thailand Open. She and Maheswari beat Japanese pair Yuriko Miki and Koharu Yonemoto in the final with the score of 21–7, 21–13. At the Super Series event, she later finished as semi-finalists in Singapore and French Open; also quarter-finalists in Indonesia Open and China Masters. In French Open, she and Maheswari beat world number one the first seeded from China Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang in close rubber-games of 21–17, 14–21, 23–21. In December, she won her third women's doubles silver medal at the Southeast Asian Games held in Myanmar.
In 2014, Polii began the season finished as semi-finalist in Korea Open and quarter-finalist in Malaysia Open with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari. In March, she became the finalist in Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold beat the first seeded Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl in the quarter-finals; the 7th seeded Luo Ying and Luo Yu in the semi finals, and later she and Maheswari were defeated by the 2nd seeded Bao Yixin and Tang Jinhua 21–19, 16–21, 13–21. In last four meeting against Bao and Tang, the match always ended with rubber-games, and after lost the match in Swiss, the head-to-head record between the pairs deficit to 0–4. At the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open, she and Maheswari were defeated for fifth time by Bao and Tang, this time they lost in a close straight games 20–22, 20–22. In May, she participated at the Uber Cup held in New Delhi, but the team finished in the quarter-finals. In June, she competed in Indonesia Open in the women's doubles with Maheswari and mixed doubles with Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. In both events, she stopped in the second round, but in the mixed doubles, she and Sukamuljo were able to surprised the competition by beating the defending champions and world number one Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei in the first round with the score of 15–21, 21–18, 23–21.
In July 2014, Polii claimed her second BWF Grand Prix Gold title with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari in Chinese Taipei Open beat Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang in final. She qualified to compete in World Championships in Copenhagen, but lost to Reika Kakiiwa and Miyuki Maeda in quarter-finals. In September, Polii won the women's doubles gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, partnered with Maheswari. En route to the gold medal, she and Maheswari beat 3rd seeds Kakiiwa and Maeda in quarter-finals, 2nd seeds Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei in semi-finals, and 1st seeds Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi in final. After finished as quarter-finalist in China Open, and semi-finalists in Hong Kong Open, she and Maheswari played in Dubai World Superseries Finals, but had to retire from the competition due to injury suffered by Maheswari in the opening match against Kakiiwa and Maeda.
In 2015, Polii opened the season as quarter-finalists in Malaysia Masters partnered with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari. She and her partner also finished in quarter-finals of All England, Malaysia, and Australia Open. In May, she was part of the Indonesia team that finished in the semi-finals and won the bronze medal of Sudirman Cup in Dongguan, China. In June, she and Maheswari made it to the final of Indonesia Open, but they were not able to win the title after lost to Tian Qing and Tang Jinhua in final. Polii and Maheswari managed to retain their title in Chinese Taipei Open after beat world number one Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi in semi-finals, and the second seeded world number 3 Luo Ying and Luo Yu in final.
In August, Polii and Maheswari won a bronze medal in World Championships in Jakarta. A month later, they then captured their first Super Series title in Korea Open. At several Super Series tournaments at the end of 2015, she finished as semi-finalists in French, Hong Kong, and Dubai World Superseries Finals, also finalists in Grand Prix Gold event in Indonesian Masters. She and Maheswari ended the season as world number 3 in BWF World ranking.
2016: World number 2, and Rio Olympics.
In January, Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari reached a career high as world number 2 in the women's doubles. She and Maheswari started the season in March, and finished as semi finalist in German Open lost to Thai pair Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai in close rubber games. In April, the duo also reached the semi-finals in India and Malaysia Open, and then they won their second Super Series title together in Singapore Open, as they did not step on court, after their opponent Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi withdrew from the final match due to injury suffered by Matsutomo in the semi-finals. Polii and Maheswasi won the bronze medal in Asian Championships held in Wuhan, lost the match to Naoko Fukuman and Kurumi Yonao in close rubber games with the score of 21–13, 19–21, 22–24. The match between two pairs ended-up in two hour, 41 minute, as they made a record as the longest badminton match ever. In May, she alongside Indonesia women's team competed in Uber Cup in Kunshan, China, but the team stopped in the quarter-finals to South Korea. In June, Polii and Maheswari finished as runner-up in Australian Open defeated by Bao Yixin and Chen Qingchen.
She made her second appearance at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this time with Maheswari. The duo won three matches in the group stage and advanced to the knocked-out stage. In the quarter-finals, they lost to Chinese pair Tang Yuanting and Yu Yang in straight games 11–21, 14–21. At the European tour in October, she and her partner reached the semi-finals in Denmark and quarter-finals in French Open. The duo were qualified for the BWF Superseries Finals. However, they withdrew from the tournament due to Maheswari's scheduled knee surgery and their position was replaced by Vivian Hoo Kah Mun and Woon Khe Wei.
2017: New partner, French Open and second Thailand Open title.
Due to injury suffered by Maheswari, Polii tried to be partnered with Rosyita Eka Putri Sari and Rizki Amelia Pradipta. Together with Putri Sari, she reached the semi-finals in Thailand Masters, lost to Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, while with Pradipta, the duo failed in the second round of European tour in German, All England and Swiss Open. In May, Polii then partnered with Apriani Rahayu, and they compete as a new pair at the Sudirman Cup in Gold Coast, Australia. Even though they had only been paired for about a month, the duo won their first title in Thailand Open after defeated the hosts pair Chayanit Chaladchalam and Phataimas Muenwong in straight games 21–12, 21–12 in the final. They also won the Superseries title at the French Open, after they were paired together in just five months. Another achievements achieved by Polii and Rahayu in 2017 were runner-up in Hong Kong, semi-finalists in New Zealand, and quarter-finalists in Korea Open. Polii also helped Indonesia women's team won the bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games held in Kuala Lumpur, unfortunately, in the individual women's doubles event, she and Rahayu lost in the first round to eventual champion Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand. Since the Polii and Rahayu partnership was first paired in May, they reached a career high as world number 10 in BWF World rankings in November.
2018: India Open and third Thailand Open title.
In January, Polii and Apriyani Rahayu began the season finished as runner-up in Indonesia Masters lost to second seeded Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi in final. A month later, the duo played as the third seeds in India Open won the title after beat the first seeded Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen in semi-finals, and the 2nd seeded Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai in final. She featured in Indonesia women's team bronze medalist at the Asia Team Championships held in Alor Setar and quarter-finalists in Uber Cup in Bangkok. In July, she and her partner lost in the quarter-finals of Indonesia Open to Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota, but a week later, she won her third Thailand Open title, and became the second title for Polii and Rahayu in Thailand, as they came in as defending champions, having won the event when it was a Grand Prix Gold last year. In August, the duo won the bronze medal at the World Championships in Nanjing, also another bronze medals at the Asian Games in the women's doubles and team events. In the remaining of 2019 tour, she and Rahayu only reached the semi-finals in Japan, China, Denmark, French, Hong Kong, and quarter-finals in Fuzhou China Open. The duo achieved their career high as world number 3 at the BWF rankings in September.
2019–2020: Second India Open, first Southeast Asian Games and home soil title.
Polii opened the 2019 season as finalist in Malaysia Masters with Apriyani Rahayu. In semi-finals, they beat their arch-rivals Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi in close rubber games, decrease their head-to-head record to 2–8. A week later, they again lost to Matsutomo and Takahashi in Indonesia Masters. Although, they have led 18–10, but the duo lost the first round in 20–22, and the match ended in close rubber games. In March, she and Rahayu stopped in quarter-finals of German and All England Open. Polii and Rahayu then clinched their second India Open title defeat Chow Mei Kuan and Lee Meng Yean in the final. In May, she alongside Indonesia team finished as semi-finalists in Sudirman Cup in Nanning, settled for the bronze medal. In June, she and Rahayu advanced to the semi-finals of Australian Open after beat the first seeded, world number one Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara in quarter-finals, but the duo were beaten by Chinese pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, made it the fifth defeat in seven meetings between them. At the World Championships in Basel, Switzerland, she and partner won the bronze medal, after defeated in the semi-finals to eventual champion Matsumoto and Nagahara. After the World Championships, her coach, Eng Hian, evaluated that she and Rahayu have decreased their performance. In the end of 2019 season, their best results were only the semi-finalists in Chinese Taipei Open, after that, they often lost in the initial stage. She finally won her first women's doubles gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games, since making her debut at the Games 14 years ago. She and Rahayu defeated Chayanit Chaladchalam and Phataimas Muenwong of Thailand 21–3, 21–18.
In 2020, Polii and Apriyani Rahayu who ranked as world number eight started their tour in Malaysia Masters. At that tournament, they finished as semi-finalists defeated by Chinese pair Li Wenmei and Zheng Yu in rubber games. A week later in Indonesia Masters, Polii won her first ever international title in Indonesia, after she and Rahayu triumphing in a thrilling match against Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen of Denmark. In February, she won her second title of the year by winning the Barcelona Spain Masters. In the final, she and Rahayu defeated Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva of Bulgaria in rubber games.
Achievements.
BWF World Championships.
"Women's doubles"
Asian Games.
"Women's doubles"
Asian Championships.
"Women's doubles"
Southeast Asian Games.
"Women's doubles"
IBF World Junior Championships.
"Girls' doubles"
"Mixed doubles"
Asian Junior Championships.
"Girls' doubles"
BWF World Tour (6 titles, 2 runners-up).
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018, is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.
"Women's doubles"
BWF Superseries (3 titles, 6 runners-up).
The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007, is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels are Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consists of twelve tournaments around the world that have been introduced since 2011. Successful players are invited to the Superseries Finals, which are held at the end of each year.
"Women's doubles"
"Mixed doubles"
BWF Grand Prix (5 titles, 6 runners-up).
The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017. The World Badminton Grand Prix has been sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006.
"Women's doubles"
Record against selected opponents.
Record against year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists.