Explain The Key To Victory Over Kamura/Sonoda, The Daddies: We Press First, The Pattern Can Get Attacked First

Hendra/Ahsan (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesian men's doubles Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan said the key to their victory over Japan's Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda was to play calmly but effectively in counter attacks.

"Thank God we were able to win today's match, a pretty tough match but we can get through it. Today we pressed first, the pattern could be an attack first," Ahsan said in an official statement from PBSI, Thursday, reported by Antara.

In the quarter-finals at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, Tokyo, The Daddies won the rubber game 21-14, 16-21, 21-9.

In the second game, the second-ranked pair made a lot of mistakes, thus increasing the opponent's enthusiasm to keep pressing. Under that pressure, The Daddies were in a hurry and made the game even more out of control.

"In the third game we tried to be calmer and play one at a time and not be tight, it made them uncomfortable playing," said Hendra.

Hendra/Ahsan also revealed that Kamura/Sonoda's playing pattern had not changed compared to previous meetings.

"Their playing pattern is more or less the same as playing long balls. So we have anticipated and implemented the same pattern as the previous meeting," Hendra added.

Entering the semifinals, The Daddies only want to focus on the match which will be held on Friday, against Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin from Taiwan.

"We don't want to think about medals first, there are still a few more matches and the opponents will be tough. So we just want to focus and prepare ourselves," said Ahsan.

Unfortunately, the victory of Hendra/Ahsan was not followed by Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Gideon. The Minions must recognize the superiority of Malaysian representatives Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik in straight games 14-21, 17-21 in the quarter-finals.

"Certainly, Indonesia's bullets in the men's doubles have decreased, because previously we had two, now there is only one. But we want to try to focus on our match, we don't want to think too much about it," said Ahsan.