Keep the Spirit of Men’s Doubles

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Indonesian men\'s doubles pair Marcus Fernaldi Gideon (left) and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo celebrates as they win the 2019 Blibli Indonesia Open on Sunday (21/7/2019) at Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta. The pair, nicknamed “The Minions”, defeated their men\'s doubles compatriots Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan 21-19, 21-16.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Only one year remains until the Tokyo 2020 Olympics from 24 July to 9 August, and the Indonesian badminton team can expect to achieve the highest in the men\'s doubles. The men’s doubles has contributed titles in two major tournaments, the All England and the 2019 Blibli Indonesia Open, and needs only to maintain consistency.

World No. 1 Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo-Marcus Fernaldi Gideon claimed the last title on Sunday (21/7/2019), when the "Minions" duo beat their seniors, Hendra Setiawan-Mohammad Ahsan 21-19, 21-16 in a final crowded with spectators at Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta.

This is the sixth win for Indonesian men\'s doubles in the 14 BWF World Tour Super 1000, 750, 500 and 300 tournaments this year. The four are tournament categories that feature many star players. The higher the tournament level, the more top players participate.

Indonesia grabbed four other titles in men\'s singles (two), women\'s singles (1) and women\'s doubles (1). It recently won the mixed doubles title in the Russian Open Super 100 tournament through Adnan Maulana-Mychelle Chrystine Bandaso.

Indonesia has dominated men’s doubles since the era of Christian Hadinata-Ade Chandra in the 1970s, which means that Indonesia has the chance to raise the Red-and-White flag at Tokyo 2020. Moreover, it claimed two men\'s doubles titles at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 and the All England championships, the latter by Hendra-Ahsan in March.

"The men\'s doubles is quite complete [with] the world number one, me and Ahsan, also Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto. Hopefully, it will remain stable in the future until it contributes an Olympic medal," said Hendra, who played at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and won the gold with Markis Kido and at Rio 2016 with Ahsan.

Kompas

Indonesian men\'s doubles gold medalists Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (right) and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon (second right) pose with silver medalists Mohammad Ahsan (left) and Hendra Setiawan (third left) and their children on the 2019 Blibli Indonesia Open winners’ podium on Sunday (21/7/2019) at Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta. Kevin-Marcus defeated Ahsan-Hendra in the men’s doubles 21-19, 21-16.

Kevin, who has maintained the top world ranking along with Marcus since October 2017, said all players had equal chance, and that they had to be consistent in every tournament. Despite facing the same opponents at each tournament, the competition seemed tighter in the Olympics qualifying season from 29 April 2019 to 26 April 2020.

"The important thing is [to have] a lot of evaluations. We are ranked first and everyone is eyeing that position. Surely, they have studied a lot about how to defeat us. We also have to continue learning," said Marcus.

The tight competition Kevin-Marcus faces can be seen from their journey in 2019. After winning the first two tournaments in January in the Malaysia and Indonesia Masters, they were sent home in the first round of the All England and were defeated by three different opponents in the next three tournaments.

If the hopes and spirit of the men\'s doubles can be maintained over the next year, this could redeem them of their failure to win medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016. The men’s doubles always presents attractive matches, with the players’ speed is Indonesia\'s main advantage. Men\'s doubles also contributed gold medals at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008. (DNA/IYA)