PETALING JAYA: Indonesia’s men’s doubles shuttler Fajar Alfian is out to crown his 11-year partnership with Rian Ardianto with their first gold in the World Championships.
Fajar is set to reunite with Rian in the prestigious meet from Aug 25-31 in Paris after a brief split.
The 30-year-old Fajar is in fine from, winning the China Open title in his last tournament with Shohibul Fikri last month.
Fajar is keen to replicate his performance this time with Rian, 29 in Paris.
“We definitely want to mark our 11-year partnership by winning the world title,” said Fajar in an interview posted in the Indonesian National Badminton Association (PBSI) website.
“We have never won gold before, so it will be very meaningful if we can finally end our long wait in Paris.
“Based on the draw, it won’t be easy. We need to focus fully on each match.”
Fajar-Rian’s best achievement in the world meet so far was winning bronze in the 2019 and 2022 editions.
The pair, who are currently ranked No. 4 in the world, have been placed in the top half of the draw this time with the likes of South Korea’s world No. 1 Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho, Denmark’s world No. 5 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen and Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (No. 7).
Fajar-Rian could take on Astrup-Rasmussen in the quarter-finals before a possible last four clash against either Seung-jae-Won-ho or Wei Chong-Kai Wun.
The Indonesians need to raise their game after struggling for form this year with their best showing together coming at home in the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta in January where they finished runners-up to Wei Chong-Kai Wun.
Indonesia’s hopes in Paris in the men’s doubles will also be on world No. 8 Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza and world No. 10 Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana.Veterans Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan were the last Indonesians to win the men’s doubles title in 2019.
