About 80% of the entire qualifying phase of the 2024 Clausura Football Tournament has already been played and with this it is already possible to know some things: the first team that will be relegated to the First Division, this being Deportivo Coatepeque; and also Two clubs are already known that guaranteed their presence in the quarterfinals.

The first to secure their ticket to the final phase was Guatemalan coach Dwight Pezzarossi’s Antigua GFC. The colonial team sealed the classification following beating Comunicaciones 3 goals to 0 on March 27 on matchday 13, while the second team to qualify was Deportivo Mixco.

The chicharroneros, who are second classified with 26 points, curiously also signed a presence in the quarterfinals with a victory once morest Comunicaciones.

It was on the recent matchday 14 that Mixco defeated the albos 0-1 on the field of the Cementos Progreso stadium and with that they put themselves out of reach of Achuapa, Guastatoya and Xelajú MC who only aspire to add 25, 20 and 23 points respectively.

Outside of Antigua and Mixco, there are six places left in dispute and eight teams will try to get them.

First is the CSD Cobán Imperial. The blue princes team had a great campaign following an irregular Apertura 2023 and now they can even aspire to finish on the podium of the classification. Although first place looks complicated, Antigua takes four points away with six in dispute, second place is more affordable and adding one more point seals its classification.

The Alta Verapaz team is third with 25 points and will play once morest Mixco on the next day. If they win, they will reach 28 points and obtain their mathematical classification.

Municipal is in fourth place with 22 points but unlike the rest of the teams it has four pending dates. If the scarlet team wins all its games and Antigua GFC fails, it might even end up as leader. Municipal needs four points out of 12 to qualify.

The case of Comunicaciones is similar to that of Municipal, it also has 22 points but the difference is that it can only add 9 more points instead of the 12 of its rival. In addition, reds and creams will star in the 328th edition of the National Classic on April 17 at Cementos Progreso. That match will be key for the classification of both.

Positions six, seven and eight (which qualify for the final phase) are occupied by Malacateco, Xinabajul and Achuapa with 18 points for the first two and 16 for the last.

While behind, in square nine and ten, are Guastatoya and Xelajú. The situation of these last two is the most complex since they do not depend on themselves to qualify and even the Quetzaltenango team is fighting not to be relegated.

The Indonesian badminton TEAM is ready to compete in the Asian Championship which will take place at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Ningbo, China, 9-14 April 2024. The Red-White badminton team left the country from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Banten, Sunday (7 /4), at 09.10 WIB.

Facing the Asian Championship, the team departed in high spirits. Success at the All England and winning two championship titles certainly increased enthusiasm.

The momentum of success in the oldest and most prestigious championship is expected to have a positive impact on the players’ performance. “The winning momentum at the All England must be maintained. Armed with victory, the players’ self-confidence will also increase. This positive thing must be maintained at the Asian Championships,” said men’s doubles head coach Aryono.

According to Aryono, the pairs Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto, Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana, and Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin have undergone optimal preparations. It is hoped that these three pairs can achieve the best achievements.

“Fajar/Rian really have to be more alert and work harder. This is because the opponents they will face in each round are different from those they encountered at the last All England,” said Aryono.

Meanwhile, Bagas Maulana admitted that he would try to enjoy every match he played. Efforts to qualify for a ticket to the Paris Olympics are indeed very difficult, but nothing is impossible. Together with Fikri, he will try to show the best performance.

Also read: Indonesia’s match schedule for March 15 this followingnoon at All England 2023, don’t miss it!

“Fikri and I will play freely and just enjoy every match. I don’t want to be burdened by having to win in order to qualify for the Paris Olympics. I will just try to play well first,” said Bagas.

From the men’s singles sector, Jonatan Christie also admitted that he was ready to compete in the Asian Championships. His preparation was also considered sufficient. After returning from All England, together with Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, Jojo was prepared by coach Irwansyah to perform optimally at the Asian Championships.

Apart from adequate preparation, Jojo admitted that his confidence was also boosted following winning the All England crown. The hope is that this increased self-confidence will support his performance on the field.

Also read: All Indonesia Semifinals, Men’s Doubles Ensure Final Tickets at Indonesia Masters

“I feel like my confidence has increased following becoming the All England champion. Hopefully this can have a positive impact on my performance in the middle of the field,” said Jojo.

In the women’s singles, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung also said that her preparations were okay. He admitted that he was ready to play in the Asian Championship.

“The preparations are good. Just compete. Hopefully the results will be good. I want to secure tickets to the Paris Olympics,” said Gregoria. (Z-2)