Odense: In a display of classic badminton, the legendary Indonesian men’s pair, Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan, have successfully moved to the next stage of the 2023 Denmark Open after triumphing in a nail-biting contest.
On Tuesday, at the Jyske Arena, Odense, a captivating match in the round of 32 was witnessed, pitting Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan against the seasoned duo of Ahsan/Setiawan.
In a spirited contest, Ahsan/Setiawan overcame their compatriots Kusumawardana/Yeremia with scores of 30-28 and 21-15, wrapping up the game in 34 minutes. This win was particularly sweet, coming as a redemption for their loss to the same opponents at the 2023 Indonesia Open earlier in June.
Highlights of Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan vs. Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan in the 2023 Denmark Open first round:
Post-match, Mohammad Ahsan expressed his gratitude and reflected on the intense gameplay. “We are thankful for today’s victory. The first game was indeed tense, but we managed to maintain our focus even when the lead kept shifting,” said Ahsan. He further noted, “It felt unfair when my serve was faulted twice. However, these moments teach us resilience.”
Sending an encouraging message to their opponents, Ahsan remarked, “We urge Pram and Yere to remain spirited and to develop a mature approach to such challenges. We’re all here for the same goal, and it’s important not to be disheartened.”
On the other hand, Hendra Setiawan expressed his reservations about the draw. “Our initial gameplay was a little slow, which allowed our opponents to get an upper hand. We regained our momentum in the second game, focusing on our strategy.” He added, “It’s always tough competing against fellow countrymen in the initial rounds, but the draw dictates such outcomes. Rankings also play a significant role in this.”
With this win, Hendra and Ahsan are now eyeing their next challenge in the Denmark Open 2023. Their upcoming contest on Thursday will see them go head-to-head with the fifth-seeded Malaysian duo, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian pair, Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi, moved forward by default due to the withdrawal of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty. They are set to compete against the victors of the match between Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun and Akira Koga/Taichi Saito.
