China Open 2024: Fikri/Daniel Tumbang

Photo: Doc. PBSI

JAKARTA - The men's doubles pair Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Daniel Marthin again failed to reach the final round after being eliminated in the semifinals of the 2024 China Open.

Fikri/Daniel returned from the tournament due to the defeat of two straight games 14-21 and 22-24 against the seventh seeded pair Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin on Saturday, September 21, evening WIB.

"Goh / Izzuddin must admit that today played very solid, very consistent from start to finish. We have tried everything, especially in the second game. At the critical points we were not reckless enough, not brave enough," said Fikri after the match.

This result also became the Malaysian pair's revenge for Fikri/Daniel, who previously stopped them in the round of 16 of the Hong Kong Open last week.

Daniel said that reaching the semifinals of the Super 1000 BWF level tournament is already a good journey because it will have an important influence on their rankings.

"Compared to last week's meeting, they were calmer and more able to control the game. We tried to turn things around in the second game, but the sustenance was not yet. We will try again in the future," he said.

The China Open is the fourth tournament Fikri/Daniel have played since their formation was overhauled. Of all these events, the semifinals are still their furthest journey.

This is the third semifinals they managed to climb. Previously, they achieved the same round when they played at the Japan Open and Korea Open.

As for playing in Hong Kong, their steps were stuck in the quarter-finals after losing against South Korea's doubles, Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae.

"After this, we have to quickly restore fitness because the Macau Open is in sight. We have to maintain conditions, eat regularly, rest regularly and keep inserting training sessions in the gym," said Daniel.

Fikri/Daniel are the second representatives of Indonesia to fall in the semifinals of the China Open. Previously, the bitter pill had already been swallowed by Dejan Ferdinansyah/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja.