Make Us Runners Up Feel Like Champions

JAKARTA – Indonesian men’s doubles pair, Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan , is considered to have made a good record at an age that is no longer young. Since 2020, Ahsan/Hendra have consistently made it to the finals in the several tournaments they have participated in.

Counting from the 2029 Indonesia Masters to the 2023 All England, the pair nicknamed The Daddies have made it to the final eight times. However, out of the eight finals, Ahsan/Hendra had to settle for being runners-up.

In the eighth final at II England 2023, Ahsan/Hendra surrendered to fellow countrymen Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto with a score of 17-21, 14-21. At that moment, Ahsan himself was also injured in his left knee.

Even though he still hasn’t broken an egg to become a champion, Ahsan himself is already very grateful. For the 35-year-old player, the runner-up title is like a champion.

“Yes, maybe the runner-up has become like a champion for me,” said Ahsan when met at the PBSI Cipayung National Training Center, Wednesday 29 March 2023.

“But we are grateful too, the road is not easy to be runner-up. Even though we didn’t win, that’s good for us,” he continued.

Even so, the player from Palembang did not deny that when they appeared in the final they could win the title again. However, even to enter the final they are very satisfied.

“Yes, I want to win, but until the final is good,” he continued.

Ahsan/Hendra’s runner-up record started with the 2020 Indonesia Masters. Then other runner-up titles were won at the 2020 BWF World Tour Finals, 2022 India Open, 2022 All England, 2022 Malaysia Masters, 2022 World Championships, 2022 BWF World Tour Finals, and All England 2023.

(sto)