What's Up With Fajar/Rian?

The pair Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto played against the British pair, Ben Lane/Sean Vendy at the Singapore Open 2023 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Tuesday, June 6, 2023/PBSI

JAKARTA - Bad results were achieved by men's doubles world number, Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto, at the Singapore Open 2023. The Indonesian pair were eliminated in the first round, Tuesday, June 6.

Fajar/Rian were defeated by the pair Ben Lane/Sean Vendy with two straight games 15-21, 18-21. The result was admitted that Fajar/Rian was not satisfactory, as well as strengthened the England duo advantage to 3-1 in the record of meeting the two pairs.

Head of the PBSI Pelatnas Men's Doubles Coach Herry Iman Pierngadi responded to Fajar/Rian's performance. He admitted that his team's appearance was abnormal.

"Accompaniment Fajar/Rian today is indeed not normal. The performance of the two players under the form. The touch has not returned yet," said Herry.

As a figure who is in charge of the national men's doubles sector, Herry assessed that his two foster children had their respective obstacles so that they influenced the results of today's match.

He said Fajar had problems in movement. Even though he no longer felt pain due to a waist injury, there were differences in his body movements.

"For Fajar, there are obstacles. The waist does not hurt anymore, but the movement is not as usual. The connection movement is a bit slow, not as fast as it used to be," Herry explained, as quoted from an official statement written via Antara.

Meanwhile Rian is still struggling with a shoulder injury that has not recovered 100 percent.

"You can't do the full smash yet. There are still doubts, so the game is not normal as usual. The quality of the attack feels responsibility," he added.

The coach nicknamed the Fire Dragon has also spoken directly with Fajar/Rian after the match. He hopes that this condition will not drag on and must rise soon, especially next week there will be a prestigious Indonesia Open tournament.

"I've been chatting with Fajar and Rian. We certainly don't want this to drag on. They admit all the shortcomings. We must also be able to get up immediately and prepare ourselves even better. Moreover, next week there will be an Indonesia Open," concluded Herry.