Wednesday, 4 Dec 2024

News | BWF World Tour

As athletes prepare to compete, it’s fascinating to understand their mindset and how they approach their opponents. In men’s doubles, the top-ranked teams each have their own strengths and weaknesses against specific rivals. This dynamic adds an intriguing element to the matches, as each partnership brings a different attitude to the court.

An example of this can be seen in the recent men’s doubles final at the VICTOR China Open 2019. The world No.1s, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, have dominated their countrymen, Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, in their last eight matchups. They have emerged victorious in final matches against Ahsan and Setiawan at the Indonesia Masters, Indonesia Open, Japan Open, and most recently, the China Open in Changzhou. Their winning streak dates back to February 2018.

Ahsan and Setiawan, on the other hand, have not been able to secure a win against their teammates since they split up after the Rio 2016 Olympics. In the most recent match, they came close to victory but ultimately lost with a score of 21-18 17-21 21-15 in 42 minutes. Despite their efforts, this was another defeat in a series of straight-games losses.

While Gideon and Sukamuljo have been successful against Ahsan and Setiawan, they too have their own weaknesses. They have struggled against Choi Solgyu and Seo Seung Jae of Korea, being knocked out in the second round of the World Championships in Basel and lucky to have escaped a similar fate in Changzhou. These setbacks, along with losses at the All England and Malaysia Opens, have made for a mixed season by their high standards. Nevertheless, winning two Super 1000 titles in a year is an impressive achievement.

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When asked about their mindset when facing certain teams, Gideon explained that their performance can vary. The style of play between pairings is different, and they have preferences in terms of opponents. Ahsan and Setiawan, on the other hand, have had little trouble against other notable rivals. They have winning records against Li Jun Hui/Liu Yu Chen of China and both Japanese pairs in 2019. Li and Liu, in particular, struggle to overcome the “Daddies.”

Despite Ahsan’s ongoing injury, which hampers his performance at times, the “Daddies” have experienced a resurgence, winning the All England and the World Championships. The fact that these victories occurred well into their mid-30s adds even more significance to their achievements.

So, what do Ahsan and Setiawan need to do to secure a win against Gideon and Sukamuljo? Ahsan believes that persistence is key. They train together and have a deep understanding of each other’s playstyles, but they acknowledge that their opponents are the best and have a speed advantage.

Gideon and Sukamuljo are approaching the season-ending HSBC BWF World Tour Finals as the team to beat. They maintain a focused mindset and are determined to achieve new heights in their career. Both the “Minions” and the “Daddies” will be competing at the Korea Open 2019 this week.

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Conclusion

In men’s doubles badminton, the top-ranked teams have their own strengths and weaknesses in matchups against specific opponents. The dynamics of these rivalries add excitement to the matches and showcase the different attitudes and strategies that each partnership brings to the court. The ongoing competition between Gideon and Sukamuljo and Ahsan and Setiawan is a prime example of this, highlighting the impressive winning streak of the former and the determination of the latter to secure a victory. It will be interesting to see how these teams continue to evolve and compete in the future.

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