Hangzhou –
Defeat Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto in the quarterfinals men’s doubles badminton Asian Games 2023 resulting in a medal tradition that had lasted for more than six decades being interrupted.
Since badminton was competed at the 1962 Asian Games, the men’s doubles event has never been absent from contributing medals. In the previous 15 editions, this sector has won eight gold medals, the most of any country.
Even in the three previous editions (2010, 2014 and 2018), the men’s doubles gold medal always belonged to Indonesia. Even if you fail to win gold, at least there is always a silver or bronze medal to take home. But this time fate spoke differently.
Fajar/Rian, who were the first seeds and silver winners at the 2018 Asian Games, were unable to beat the 2020 Olympic gold winners, Lee Yang/Wang Chi-lin. Even though they were able to put up fierce resistance, in the end they still lost 19-21, 18-21.
The day before, Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin Indian men’s doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty, had already been eliminated. Be Merah Putih failed to continue the medal tradition in this number.
Not only that, this defeat also ensured that the target of three golds set by PBSI failed to be realized. This is a wake-up call ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Moreover, men’s doubles have not won a medal since 2008. Can the men’s doubles sector recover?
(adp/krs)
2023-10-05 08:35:35
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