Indonesian women’s singles star, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, secured a remarkable comeback victory in the first round of the Kumamoto Masters 2025.
Gregoria finally managed to avoid the dreaded early exit, fighting valiantly at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium in Kumamoto, Japan, on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. This hard-earned triumph marks a significant step forward in her campaign.
She overcame a long-standing rival, Hung Yi-Ting from Taiwan, whom she had not faced in eight years. The reunion on court was charged with history.
The fervent desire for revenge, stemming from a defeat eight years prior, was fully satisfied today as Gregoria claimed a hard-fought victory in three games.
This win successfully avenged Gregoria’s loss to Hung when they were still competing at junior level, a match that took place at the Vietnam International Challenge back in 2017. It was a long-awaited retribution for the Indonesian shuttler.
Kumamoto Masters 2025 – Kadek Dhinda Expresses Gratitude, Super 500 Debut Instantly Topples Seeded Player
Gregoria’s journey on court today was far from easy. Her path to victory demanded resilience and focus.
The player, who has been steadily recovering from bouts of vertigo, initially approached the first game with noticeable confidence. As a seeded player, Gregoria was undoubtedly favored in many aspects over her Taiwanese opponent, Hung Yi-Ting.
Gregoria maintained a comfortable lead throughout the first half of the game, skillfully building her advantage from 5-2 to 12-8. Her early dominance suggested a straightforward path.
However, for reasons unknown, Gregoria faltered after the mid-game interval. Her steady rhythm dissipated, and the momentum shifted dramatically.
She soon found herself trailing, sharply overtaken by Hung who surged ahead to an 18-14 lead. The tables had suddenly turned.
A noticeable lapse in focus enveloped the 2017 junior world champion, and Gregoria was unable to close the gap. Despite her best efforts, Hung proved too strong in the closing moments.
Consequently, Gregoria was forced to concede the opening game with a 17-21 defeat, setting the stage for a tense battle.
Entering the second game, Gregoria played with heightened focus and renewed determination. She maintained her lead with much greater discipline, not faltering even after the crucial interval.
From an early 9-5 lead, she successfully extended her advantage, asserting control and pulling away to 14-8.
Decisively, Gregoria quickly wrapped up the second game with a dominant 21-9 victory, leveling the match and setting up a thrilling decider.
Moving to the decisive third game, Gregoria and Hung engaged in a tight, back-and-forth contest at the outset. Each point was fiercely contested as they jockeyed for an early advantage.
But it was Gregoria who gained the critical momentum first. The tenacious player from Wonogiri, Central Java, successfully surged ahead, establishing a 12-9 lead.
A two-point margin emerged in the latter half of the match, keeping the pressure high. Gregoria still led, but the wife of singer Mikha Angelo was hotly pursued by Hung, who narrowed the gap to 18-16.
From that point, Gregoria accelerated her efforts, stepping on the gas to secure a hard-fought victory with final scores of 17-21, 21-9, 21-18, marking a triumphant comeback.
Kumamoto Masters 2025 Results – Fajar/Fikri’s Formidable Opponents Show Why They Are Top Seeds, Kim/Seo Propel Korea Ahead Early
Summary
Indonesian women’s singles player, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, secured a remarkable comeback victory in the first round of the Kumamoto Masters 2025 on November 12. She triumphed over her long-standing rival, Hung Yi-Ting from Taiwan, in their first encounter in eight years. This hard-fought win successfully avenged Gregoria’s junior-level defeat against Hung in 2017.
The match saw Gregoria, despite recovering from vertigo, lose the first game 17-21 after faltering post-interval. However, she displayed renewed determination to dominate the second game 21-9, leveling the score. In the decisive third game, Gregoria fought through a tight contest to secure the victory with a final score of 21-18, completing her comeback.
