Fajar/Rian Win Easily In The First Round Of The Indonesia Open 2023 Despite Being Enlivened By Tensions

The pair Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto. (Photo: Twitter/@INABadminton)

JAKARTA - The Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto pair stepped smoothly into the last 16 of the Indonesia Open 2023. Fajar/Rian got tickets after defeating Danish men's doubles Jeppe Bay/Lasse M Wayhede.

The host's representative pair won two straight games. After winning the first game with a score of 21-15, the Red and White men's doubles closed the match with a 21-11 win in the second game.

Even though they won easily, Fajar/Rian still felt the tension during the match. Moreover, they appeared in front of thousands of fans who packed the Istora Senayan stands, Jakarta.

This tension felt reasonable because the last time the world number one pair appeared at Istora Senayan was during the Indonesia Masters 2023, last January. After that, Fajar/Rian toured various countries following the tournament schedule from the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

"What is certain is that in the first half the Indonesia Open was quite tense because it had been a long time ago, several months (after the Indonesia Masters) did not play in front of the public itself," Fajar said after the match.

Meanwhile, despite winning two straight games and playing in front of their own fans, Fajar assessed that Bay/Melhede are a couple who are able to perform well and can provide difficulties on the field.

However, the advantage for the Indonesian duo was created thanks to the careful preparation that was arranged before the match.

"The Danish players also played well, but we have prepared strategies and communication with the coach for the way they play," said Fajar, as reported by Antara.

Fajar/Rian admit that the initial results of the BWF S tournament

The 1000 upers today became their capital to rise. In the previous two tournaments at the Malaysia Masters and Singapore Open, Fajar/Rian always ran aground in the first half.

"Yes, both of us did not want to repeat the defeat in the early rounds, because in Malaysia and Singapore we lost in the first round. We want to be more focused, we want to do our best," said Fajar.

"In the two tournaments yesterday it was not optimal, but we don't want to give up and want to improve again so that in the future it can be better," Rian added.