Jakarta: The World No. 1 from Denmark – Viktor Axelsen, has made history by becoming the fourth man to win the Indonesia Open men’s singles title three times in a row. He faced Indonesia’s World No. 2 Asian champion Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the men’s singles final on Sunday and won with a score of 21-14, 21-13 in 47 minutes.
Axelsen has now joined the ranks of former Indonesian star Ardy Wiranata (1990-1992), Taufik Hidayat (2002-2004), and Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei (2009-2011) as the only players to achieve three consecutive championships at Indonesia Open.
Highlights of Viktor Axelsen vs. Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the 2023 Indonesia Open final:
Sunday’s victory was Axelsen’s second title this year, following his win at the Malaysia Open, which was upgraded to the Super 1000 tournament in 2023. The win also marked a strong return for Axelsen from his hamstring injury sustained during the 2023 Sudirman Cup quarter-finals last month. Axelsen has won all of his last 10 encounters against Ginting and has won 12 out of their 16 career encounters. Meanwhile, Ginting missed the chance to end Indonesia’s 10-year men’s singles wait at the Indonesia Open and his third title this year. The last Indonesian player to win the tournament was Simon Santoso who won it in 2012.
In the men’s doubles final, Malaysia’s Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik continued their six-year BWF World Tour drought by losing to Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty of India. Despite having a one-sided 8-0 career head-to-head meeting record against the Indian pair before Sunday’s match, Chia/Soh had to swallow their first defeat at their 9th meeting on Sunday, losing 17-21, 18-21.
Highlights of Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik vs. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty in the 2023 Indonesia Open final:
This was the fifth time both Chia/Soh have advanced to the World Tour finals since their partnership started in 2017, but they have failed in all attempts.
In the final, Rankireddy/Shetty defended very well and was fast in attacks, while Chia/Soh weren’t able to control the rhythm and made a lot of mistakes by lifting the shuttlecock halfway to the mid-court which ended up getting killed easily by the Indian pair.
Rankireddy/Shetty became the first Indian men’s doubles pair to win the Indonesia Open and their third title win this year after the Asia Badminton Championships and the Swiss Open.
