Fajar/Rian Want To Defend The Title In The All England Final

Indonesian men's doubles Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto celebrated their victory in the semifinals of the All England Open 2024. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesian men's doubles Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto are determined to defend their title in the final round of the All England Open 2024, Sunday.

"The all Indonesian final in the men's singles will certainly increase our motivation in the match (semifinals) earlier. We also want to present the All England title for Indonesia. So later we want to do our best," Rian said as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, March 17.

The certainty was achieved by Fajar/Rian after winning the fierce match against the fifth seed from Japan, Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi in the semifinals, Sunday WIB.

Fajar/Rian won through straight games 21-18, 21-18 within 40 minutes.

The game was quite fierce, with the two pairs fighting for each other's points in the two games. In the first game, Fajar/Rian, who was the seventh seed in this tournament, were able to excel and defend it at critical points, until they finally recorded the victory.

Then in the next game, the race for numbers went even more intensely, where the Hockey/Kobayashi pair took the lead long since the second game. The Japanese pair had won very far 15-6 from the Indonesian representatives.

"The two opponents' game played very well at the beginning, their defense was extraordinary, several times made it difficult for us with his counterattack," said Fajar.

However, the 2023 All England champion did not immediately drift under pressure and was able to catch up with them slowly but surely, until they equalized to 18-18.

At this crucial moment, Fajar/Rian showed their quality as Indonesia's superior men's doubles and won 21-18.

"We didn't expect to be able to catch up and turn things around in the second game. But we support each other, showing each other a big fighting power that while it's not finished, we can't attack first," Fajar said.

"Earlier the key was on service, the service combination we used when we were left behind became an effective weapon to get point by point. We can assure you of the short service, long service and service drive," he added.

With this, Fajar/Rian will meet Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalists from Malaysia, Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik in the final round, which is scheduled to take place at 20.30 WIB.

On paper, Chia/Soh are 4-3 narrow ahead of Fajar/Rian. However, the Indonesian pair still believes they can compete in the final later.

"We feel here we can play more fun. But even though it's in the final, there are still many shortcomings that need to be fixed, reducing our own mistakes," said Fajar.

"Later in the final the chance is 50:50, we have won against them, we have lost too. The opponent played very well in this tournament, hopefully tomorrow we can outperform them," he added.

There are three Indonesian representatives who will compete in the final round of this Super 1000 BWF tournament. Apart from Fajar/Rian, there are two men's singles Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and Jonatan Christie who will compete for the title in the sector, which was last won by Hariyanto Arbi in 1994.