Gabby Adcock
Gabby Adcock is the “First Lady” of modern British badminton, a player whose tactical aggression at the net redefined England’s
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Apriyani Rahayu
Apriyani Rahayu is the powerhouse of Indonesian doubles, a player whose explosive energy and defensive brilliance have made her a global icon. Rising from a remote village in Sulawesi with a wooden racket, she eventually partnered with the legendary Greysia Polii to secure Indonesia’s historic first Olympic Gold in Women’s Doubles. Since 2022, she has embraced the role of a senior leader, guiding a new generation of Indonesian talent to the top of the world rankings.
Basic Information
- Name: Apriyani Rahayu
- Date of Birth: 29 April 1998
- Nationality: Indonesia 🇮🇩
- Height: 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
- Handedness: Right-handed
- Playing Style: Aggressive all-rounder; known for explosive power, incredible defensive reflexes, and high-intensity court coverage.
- Status: Active
- Highest Ranking: World No. 3 (with Greysia Polii); World No. 4 (with Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti)
Career Highlights & Achievements
🏆 Olympic Games
🥇 Gold – 2020 Tokyo (Women’s Doubles with Greysia Polii)
🏆 BWF World Championships
🥈 Silver – 2023 Copenhagen (Women’s Doubles with Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti)
🥉 Bronze (2) – 2018 Nanjing, 2019 Basel (Women’s Doubles with Greysia Polii)
🏆 Asian Games
🥉 Bronze (1) – 2018 Jakarta-Palembang (Women’s Doubles with Greysia Polii)
🏆 BWF World Tour / Superseries
🏆 Super 1000 / SS Premier
🥇 Winner (1) – Thailand Open (2021)
🥈 Silver (1) – Indonesia Open (2021)
🏆 Super 750 / SS
🥇 Winner (2) – French Open (2017), Malaysia Open (2022)
🥈 Silver (2) – Hong Kong Open (2017)
🏆 Super 500 / SS / GP Gold
🥇 Winner (4) – India Open (2018, 2019), Thailand Open (2018), Indonesia Masters (2020), Singapore Open (2022)
🥈 Silver (2) – Indonesia Masters (2018), Malaysia Masters (2019)
🏆 Team Events:
🏆 Sudirman Cup (Mixed Team):
🥉 Bronze (1) – 2019 Nanning
🏆 Uber Cup (Women’s Team):
🥈 Silver (3) – 2024 Chengdu
🏆 Asian Games (Women’s Team):
🥉 Bronze (1) – 2018 Jakarta–Palembang
🏆 Asian Team Championships:
🥉 Bronze (1) – 2018 Alor Setar
🏆 SEA Games (Women’s Team)
🥈 Silver (2) – 2019 Philippines, 2021 Vietnam
🥉 Bronze (1) – 2017 Kuala Lumpur
Playing Style & Strengths
Antonsen plays a thinking player’s game, blending classic European structure with modern athleticism. Rather than relying on overwhelming power, he wins through control, variation, and relentless consistency.
- Explosive Power: Apriyani possesses one of the hardest smashes in the women’s game, often used to finish rallies after her partner creates an opening.
- Acrobatic Defense: She is famous for her "diving" saves, possessing the lateral speed and reflexes to return shuttlecocks that appear to have already hit the floor.
- Emotional Engine: Her high-energy celebrations and vocal presence on court serve to intimidate opponents and boost her partner's morale during pressure points.
- Front-Court Adaptability: Initially a back-court attacker, she has evolved into a versatile playmaker, capable of holding her own at the net against specialist front-court players.
Rivalries & Key Matches
🔹 Chen Qingchen / Jia Yifan (CHN): The definitive rivalry of her career. The “Pri-Fad” vs “Chen-Jia” battles are legendary for their high speed and tactical complexity, most notably their historic clash in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Final.
🔹 Nami Matsuyama / Chiharu Shida (JPN): A matchup of contrasting styles—Japanese consistency vs Indonesian explosive power. These matches are frequently the longest in any tournament, often exceeding 90 minutes.
🔹 Baek Ha-na / Lee So-hee (KOR): This rivalry became a staple of the 2023-2024 seasons. Apriyani’s power is constantly tested against the “wall-like” defensive discipline of the Korean pair.
🔹 Yuki Fukushima / Sayaka Hirota (JPN): A classic veteran rivalry. During her years with Greysia Polii, these four players produced some of the most physically demanding rallies in badminton history.
Notable Matches
🏸 2020 Tokyo Olympics Final: Defeated Chen/Jia to win gold, becoming part of the first unseeded pair to ever win the Olympic Women’s Doubles title.
🏸 2023 World Championships SF: A masterclass performance against Kim So-yeong/Kong Hee-yong to reach her first World Championship final with Siti Fadia.
🏸 2022 Malaysia Open Final: Her first major title with new partner Siti Fadia, proving to the world that she could remain elite after Greysia Polii’s retirement.
🏸 2021 Thailand Open Final: Her first Super 1000 title, which set the momentum for her legendary Olympic run later that year.
Personal Life & Background
Apriyani’s story is a “rags-to-riches” tale that has inspired millions. Born in Lawulo, a remote village in Southeast Sulawesi, she started playing with a wooden racket her father carved because they could not afford a real one. Her mother was her biggest supporter, often sacrificing to ensure Apriyani could travel for trials. Tragically, her mother passed away in 2015 while Apriyani was competing in Peru; despite the heartbreak, Apriyani stayed to win medals in her honor. She eventually moved to Jakarta alone as a teenager, training at the Jaya Raya club before being scouted for the national team. Today, she is known for her humility, frequently returning to her village to support local athletics.
Trivia & Fun Facts
⭐ The Wooden Racket Legend: Her first “racket” was made of wood with fishing line strings, a fact now famous in Indonesian sports lore.
⭐ History Maker: She is part of the only Indonesian pair to ever win Olympic Gold in Women’s Doubles.
⭐ Name on a Building: The Student Sports Training Centre (PPOP) in Ragunan, Jakarta, was renamed the “Greysia-Apriyani Building” in her honour.
⭐ Multi-Talented: Outside of badminton, Apriyani is a talented singer and often shares videos of herself performing Indonesian pop songs.
⭐ “Smiley” Assassin: Like her former partner, Greysia, Apriyani is known for her wide smile on court, which she uses as a psychological tool to stay relaxed under pressure.
Latest News & Updates
As of early 2026, Apriyani Rahayu is leading the Indonesian Women’s team as they prepare for the 2026 Asian Games. After a period of injury management in late 2025, she has returned to peak fitness, focusing on a more tactical game to complement her natural power. She remains a mentor for the younger doubles pairs at PBSI and has recently been involved in launching a national youth sports foundation in her home province of Sulawesi.
FAQs
- Who is Apriyani Rahayu’s current partner?
- As of the current 2025-2026 season, her primary partner is Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, though she occasionally mentors junior players in regional events.
- Where is Apriyani Rahayu from?
- She was born and raised in Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia.
- What was her most famous achievement?
- Winning the Gold Medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics alongside Greysia Polii.
- Has she ever played Mixed Doubles?
- Yes, in her junior career, she won bronze medals at the World Junior and Asian Junior Championships in the mixed doubles category.
- How did she get started in badminton?
- She started at age 3, encouraged by her father and mother, using makeshift equipment in her backyard before being scouted for professional training in Jakarta.
