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Despite tight schedule, Kevin-Marcus secure Japan Open title
Winning streak: Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon (left) and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo celebrate their victory over China’s Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen during the men’s doubles final at the Japan Open badminton championship in Tokyo on Sunday
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inning streak: Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon (left) and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo celebrate their victory over China’s Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen during the men’s doubles final at the Japan Open badminton championship in Tokyo on Sunday. (AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi)
Fresh from their recent triumph in the 2018 Asian Games Indonesian men’s doubles pair Kevin Sanjaya Sukomuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon have retained their Japan Open badminton tournament title after beating Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen of China 21-11, 21-13.
This is the sixth title for the pair this year following the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters, India Open, All England, Blibli Indonesia Open and the just-ended Asian Games.
The Kevin-Marcus pair managed to stay solid throughout the match. They were merciless in defending their lead right through to the end of the match and their Chinese opponents were unable to succeed in their attacks despite improving their style.
“We are grateful to have been able to achieve this win,” Kevin said.
Commenting on their opponents, Kevin acknowledged that he had seen quite a massive change in their playing pattern. The Li-Liu pair, he said, used to be solid defending players but then they decided to change
strategy.
“However, we expected this to happen and thus we were able to handle the situation. We studied their styles in previous matches, including when they faced Fajar Alfian and Rian Ardianto. We were able to anticipate them.”
Kevin added that the stadium in which they had retained title, the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, was the chosen stadium for the sport at the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics and this had benefited them as players.
“We enjoyed the court even though the shuttlecock seems to be heavier than usual, but we could deal with that.”
Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) secretary-general Achmad Budiharto praised the win, which he said had been expected.
“In general, the results are quite satisfactory. We have the Kevin-Marcus pair winning the title and the women’s doubles reaching the semifinal,” Achmad told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
The women’s doubles pair Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu were beaten 12-21, 18-21 by Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota of Japan in the semifinals.
However, he added what happened with Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, who competed in the men’s singles, and the mixed-doubles pair Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti was quite unexpected. He felt that the association expected more of them.
Anthony was defeated by first-seeded shuttler Viktor Axelsen, 17-21, 15-21 in the quarterfinals.
When asked whether the tight schedule between tournaments had meant many players had been unable to catch their breath and were worn out, Achmad said the tight schedule was part of the nature of the sport and similar conditions applied to all players.
“The tight schedule shows the competitive nature of this sport and is felt by all players,” he said.
“The real challenge for all players is utilizing not only their physical but also mental concentration to win a match and take the title.”
