For the first time at this level, Malaysia bagged three of the five titles on offer. Only China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia had managed to claim three or more titles at Super 500 tournaments and above.
The first breakthrough came in mixed doubles, where Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei showed grit and belief to come from behind against Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Boje. After dropping the opening game, the world champions tightened their play and lifted their intensity to seal a 15-21 21-17 21-11 win, becoming the first Malaysian mixed pair to lift the Indonesia Masters.
“We didn’t want to miss the chance to be champions. These opportunities don’t come easy,” said Chen. “But this is a good sign for us as a pair, now we just want to keep working on getting better.”
Malaysia’s second title arrived in women’s doubles under unfortunate circumstances, with Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan handed a walkover after Miyu Takahashi’s fever forced her and Arisa Igarashi to concede a walkover. It still marked a milestone moment – Tan/Muralitharan became only the second Malaysian women’s pair to win the tournament, 15 years after Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei.
The third title carried an extra layer of satisfaction.
Men’s pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin produced a composed 21-19 21-13 victory over rising Indonesian youngsters Nikolaus Joaquin/Raymond Indra, avenging their semifinal loss at the Australian Open and ending a one-year title drought.
“It means a lot, especially as this has been one of our hardest periods of career,” said Goh. “We played quite well but to be honest the pressure was on them and that worked to our advantage.”
For all of Malaysia’s historic success, the final chapter belonged to Indonesia’s newest darling.
Twenty-year-old Alwi Farhan saved his most emphatic performance for the biggest stage, dismantling Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul 21-5 21-6 in 25 minutes in the men’s singles final. The 2023 world junior champion barely put a foot wrong as he surged to his first Super 500 title – and his second World Tour crown overall – in front of a roaring home crowd.
“Amazing, really speechless and I’m grateful. This is a dream come true,” said Farhan. “Eight years ago, I was dreaming of playing in front of the Indonesian crowd at Istora and today I made it.
“I’m staying here. I believe one day I’m going to be the best in the world. I hope it comes true.”
Credits to BWF.
