Kumamoto Japan Masters 2024: Fajar/Rian Clash With Fikri/Daniel

Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Daniel Marthin met in the semifinals of the 2024 Japanese Kumamoto Masters (doc. PBSI).

JAKARTA - Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Daniel Marthin clashed in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Japanese Kumamoto Masters.

The two pairs included three Indonesian representatives who broke into the last eight of the tournaments from four couples who played in the second round on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

Fajar/Rian, who is the former world number one, qualified after stopping the Malaysian pair, Man Wei Chong/Kai Wun Tee, through the rubber game with a final score of 21-17, 19-21, and 21-19.

"Tomorrow against our own colleagues. We must not be careless at all because we know they are extraordinary, seen in training so far. We will try to do our best," said Fajar.

Meanwhile, Fikri/Daniel reached the last eight after stopping Liu Kuang Heng/Yang Po Han (China Taipei) in two straight games 21-13 and 21-18.

This clash automatically means that Indonesia already has one semifinal ticket from the men's doubles number at the Super 500 BWF level tournament, which is only two editions old.

"Tomorrow we meet Fajar/Rian. So, of course we have to be more confident and confident. We are happy that the men's doubles have confirmed a place in the semifinals," said Fikri.

In addition to the two pairs, the ticket to the quarter-finals was also obtained by the pair Leo Rolly Carnando/Bagas Maulana. The doubles repatriated Kenya Mitsuhashi/Hiroki Okamura from Japan.

The other couple who failed to follow in the footsteps of the three were Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani. They failed after being beaten by sixth seed from Japan, Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi.