Mentally Still A Problem For Fajar/Rian, Dragon Air Coach: Must Be More Confident

Indonesian men's doubles, Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto. (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The world's number one men's doubles performance, Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto, has yet to show a direction of improvement. Most recently, this Indonesian mainstay pair was eliminated in the second round of the Hong Kong Open 2023.

Mental is a problem that still eats away at Fajar/Rian. This was also revealed by PBSI's men's doubles coach, Aryono Miranat.

"Once again, as I said last week, Fajar/Rian is a matter of confidence. You have to be more sure, even calmer in playing with any opponent's patterns," said the coach who is familiarly called Coach Naga Air.

He added that if Fajar/Rian could find trust and confidence in them, whatever the form or pattern of the opponent's game could definitely be overcome properly.

"If you are more sure, surely any pattern of opponents can be overcome, besides that it must be reduced even more by your own mistakes, the accuracy of flat balls and placing must be better. Likewise with defense," said Aryono, quoted from Antara.

He hopes that the world number one men's doubles can again find confidence and can rise in other important tournaments in the near future.

"I hope they can get back up in the next very important tournament, namely the Asian Games," he said.

Fajar/Rian's steps were stopped in the round of 16 of the Hong Kong Open 2023 after losing to Taiwanese representative Fang-Chih Lee/Fang-Jen Lee in two straight games 16-21, 19-21, Thursday, September 14.

Fajar said their game in the second round of the BWF Super 500 tournament was far from their expectations, despite opponents who played well and were confident.

"We made a lot of mistakes in easy balls, balls that shouldn't have died," said Fajar.

"This result must be accepted and we must be prepared for the condition. Everything has happened and we have to dare to get out of the pressure. Don't get bored to evaluate and introspect," he added.