Marcus Fernaldi Gideon (right) and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia pose with their trophies on the podium during the awards ceremony following their men\'s doubles final victory over Fu Haifeng and Zheng Siwei of China at the Malaysia Open Badminton Superseries in Kuching on April 9.
KUCHING, SUNDAY – Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon’s success in England and India has continued in Malaysia. Despite the pressure of being the pair to beat and having to play in an unfit condition, the pair’s motivation and spirit were key to their victory in the Malaysian Open final on Sunday.
The title was won at Perpaduan Stadium, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, after Kevin and Marcus beat Fu Haifeng and Zheng Siwei (China) 21-14, 14-21, 21-12. Even though the tournament was the first for Fu-Zheng as a pair, Fu was a men’s double champion at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, both times with different playing partners.
The Malaysian Open title is the third in three Super Series and Premier tournaments that Kevin and Marcus participated in this year. Last week they were crowned champions in India, after winning All England on March 12.
The title also rounded up the titles from six Super Series and Premier tournaments around the world. The three other tournaments were held in 2016, in India, Australia and China. In the World Badminton Federation tournament, Super Series and Premier are level II, under the Olympics and World Championship.
“Of course we are pleased to win consecutive titles. Initially, we did not imagine we could win because our energy had been drained. But, when we played in the third game, we thought we were almost there, and this is the final. We must be champions,” said Marcus, as published on the Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) website.
National men’s double head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi said that both players had the flu, which had drained their energy. In such conditions, spirit and motivation are key to victory. “I also asked them to play patiently with accurate ball placement,” Herry said.
Upon the pair’s return from the All England tournament, Kevin was not in prime condition because of a cough. In India, Marcus had the flu. After the semifinal on Saturday, Marcus said that his body was weak.
The motivation to perform to the best of their ability, as well as the mistakes made in the second game in the final, prompted Kevin and Marcus to play cleverly in the deciding game. At least 10 winning shots were made, some due to ball precision in an empty area of the court, including on serve returns.
The pair not only pressed through smash shots as they did in the second game. Instead of hitting smash shots from unfavorable positions, Kevin and Marcus forced their opponents to a rally of fast, low shots.
Their speed in mixing up their shots, which often fooled their opponents, invited praise from fellow athletes and former athletes of other countries. “Trying to find the right words for Kevin Sanjaya and Marcus Fernaldi’s playing style: amazing.” That was a tweet from former Dutch badminton mixed doubles player Jorrit de Ruiter.
Denmark singles player Hans Kristian Vittinghus also praised the feat of winning six titles in six Super Series finals.
More aware
This third consecutive title was won amid desire by top badminton pairs to beat Kevin and Marcus. Mads Conrad-Peterson and Mads Pieler Kolding (Denmark) had been waiting to play against the pair in Malaysia after the Danish pair was beat by Kevin and Marcus in the All England and Indian Open. However, their wish did not materialize because the Mads duo was beat in the early round.
Former Malaysian players, Razif Sidek and Yap Kim Hock, said before the tournament that Kevin-Marcus was the pair the Malaysian pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong had to beat. However, they also failed in the early round.
Marcus is aware that he and Kevin will be targeted by many pairs. Therefore, they always study their opponents’ game techniques.
Herry said that he always reminded Kevin-Marcus to be more aware when they are at the top of their game. They are reminded to not be complacent. “If they are overly-confident, they can get caught out,” he said.
In the men’s singles, Lin Dan (China) quashed the ambition of host idol Lee Chong Wei to win his 12th title in the Malaysian Open. In the classic final between two players that have been rivals since 2004, Lin Dan won 21-19, 21-14.
China also won the mixed doubles category. The women’s singles was won by Taiwan, while the women’s double category was won by a Japanese pair.
