Just one more match to come this year though and it is the men's doubles final. Aaron Char and Sulweng Ik against the defending champions Alfean and Arianto. So as far as the men's doubles draw, who was concerned by quarterfinal stage, we had six different flags next to the eight pairs, two from Indonesia and two from Chinese Taipei.
But look, only three seeds, only one in the top half of the draw at quarterfinal stage. Four different flags, so at semifinal stage, and it sets up a wonderful final between the beaten finalists from five years ago. Aranchar and Sohi. Aranchar and Sohi. up against the defending champions, Alfian and Ardeanto.
So as far as the race to the World Tour finals is concerned, we can see that Alfian and Ardeanto are currently at five. If they win today's final, they'll go up three places to number two. If they're beaten in today's final, they'll only go up one place to number four. Aaron Char and Soeik aren't on the list, but they're only two places off. They're at number 12. They could end up at number five if they win.
It's not... they'll only be number six. This is the Yonex All England Open Babington Championships 2024 Men's Doubles Final. Let's welcome our players. We go...
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Let me hear you, Barbican! Seeds from Malaysia!
Arantia and so we... Arantia and so we... The former world champions and beaten finalists here at the All England five years ago are trying to become the first Malaysians to win this men's doubles title in 17 years.
And let's have a massive welcome for the number seven seed from Indonesia, Fajar Al-Fiyah. Alvian and Mohamed Arendt on semi-finals day to be on a mission to retain their title they had to come back from a massive deficit against former world champions Hoki and Kobayashi Well, this will be an eighth meeting between these two pairs and of the previous seven this Malaysian combination in the orange shirts have won four of them including the last time which was way back last in the semi-final of the India Open. It was three thrilling games in Delhi. 21-16 in the deciding game. Who will serve?
Aaron to serve? Ariantar is safe. Which side?
That side. OK, thank you. Thank you.
So, the Malaysians... In the toss of the coin and choose to serve A second All England final for Aaron Char Who turned 27 last month born in the ancient city of Malacca the historic state in Malaysia He and his partner did spend 20 weeks as world number twos across three different spells but currently number five on the world ranking hence their number five seeding at this tournament. also had a birthday last month, born in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.
And they won the Olympic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. A year later they won the world championship gold also in Tokyo. And as far as their matches are concerned, well they've won all of their matches in two straight games. Teammates in the first round, a pair from Chinese Taipei in the second, and then the 2022 winners.
And Mulana before Nijia Hui and Yangtze Chuan in the semi-final yesterday. That pair from Chinese Taipei have been in two finals in the previous two weeks. They're in great form. the defending champions and Fajar Al Fiyan turned 29 10 days ago. From Van Dome in West Java and they are former world number ones.
for 41 consecutive weeks from the end of December 2022. But as you can see, they're currently number seven. Mohamed Orian Adianto, like his two opponents, had a birthday last month, turned 28. Abid Hassan and Setiawan, their teammates in last year's All-Ireland Final. And here this year, well, they have been...
pushed the full distance just once. And they played in the quarterfinal against the Olympic champions, Li Yang and Wang Qilin. Saved three game points in the second game. And I was alluding to the semifinal against Hoki and Kobayashi. They had to come from 3-12 and 6-15 down to win in that second game, 21-18.
Paul de Kuyper of the Netherlands is our umpire for this one and David Evans from England the service judge Well they started the tournament with three pairs in the draw who won this title previously and all three pairs came from Indonesia So it's pretty fitting we've got Indonesians once again in the final. Ladies and gentlemen, on my right, Eretia and Soboje in Malaysia. And on my left, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Riyal Ariyanto, Indonesia.
And we have to serve to Muhammad Riyal Ariyanto. Laval, blade. So the beaten finalists from five years ago, Aramcar and Solini, the four more champions, there is to us in this last final of 2020. And he fought. Oh!
And the winner of the championship is number one. One and one. Well, I thought the Malaysians yesterday against Nguyen Tuong Kuei and Nguyen Tuong Xuan were outstanding, Steve.
I really agree with you the Indonesians also look good but we're a little bit uncertain at least I am because that second game they won yesterday they really had no business winning it Well obviously the Indonesians trying to win two consecutive titles at the All England in the men's doubles and the last pair to do so Of course The last Indonesian 17 and 18 Oh, good play there. Super important to keep the Indonesians honest, especially Aaron Chah here. He's so good on the frontcourt. Is it a nervous start by the Belasians?
Yes, I think so. Yeah. And a very focused start from the Indonesians. They won the first two Super 1000 events last year and they haven't actually won a title since.
They've only been in one final since they won last year, hasn't they? That's right. That was the Korean Open 500 event. There's been a lot of uncertainty in the Indonesian pair. Winning, finally winning All England, sort of taking over after the two big pairs in terms of Asan and Setsiman and Gideon and Sukamulio.
I think it takes time to get used to that, plus the Olympic qualification period started. Well Aaron Carr and so we are in a seventh World Tour tournament final and they've only won one title and won their first ever World Tour title at the Denmark Open last year. Yeah, apologizes for hitting his opponent.
Yeah, that's not a good play by Aaron there. Brilliant awareness from Alfjörn. I think the Olympic qualification period has also affected this pair more than we think because they're experienced in terms of World Tour tournaments, but they've never been to the Olympics. And when the Olympic qualification period started, there were six Indonesian pairs competing for maximum two places. And I think that's put a lot of pressure on them.
Yeah. Now they know they're qualified. Oh, so unique, just not moving his feet. Seems like the Malaysians are a little bit afraid of lifting. Going in the defense.
That should be one of their assets the way I saw it here in this match. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! Goal!
Oh, well, it's so important in all doubles disciplines to get on the attack. In the men's doubles, the server turning third shot become paramount. Oh! Sets the tone of the rally. Six, seven.
Oi! Oi! Both going for the defensive shot, both the Malaysians and getting in each other's way.
I think there was a clash of rackets there, but it means that Alfian and Arianto have a five-point advantage here at the mid-game interval. I rarely get invited to the event. But if I'm invited, I'm ready. Six, play. So the play resumes.
Yeah, and the Indonesians picked up where they left off. Lovely block from Aaron Sharpe Yeah Now that's one of the things that the Malaysian coaches were talking about in the timeout there Block back to the net and follow forward That's the block that did the damage What a beautiful shot from Aaron Sharpe And finished off with a nice cross court smash too The Indonesians that just seem to be half a step further forward than the Malaysians. They seem a little bit hesitant. The Malaysians.
That may be the nerves. 14-7. Well, he's the frontcourt player, Alfian.
Oh, I see it. He's served really, really well. That's super important in such a match.
It's an important match. Can't get it below the tape conditions. Yeah.
57 The Amazons are really struggling to find their touch and form How many errors have we seen from them so far? Bet on hopefully a rally like that will give them confidence 50 Everything rolls the Indonesian way. Just trickled over, didn't it?
Here we go! Toe! 9-16. Well I think this man is the key, Aaron Sharpe. He I think takes the captain's role within the partnership.
He's got wonderful skills. It's well left, just long as the back line. Since it's important for the Malaysians to find some kind of rhythm here, I mean they're not out of this first game yet, but it's become more unlikely that they can win it. They must find some rhythm. Stepping forward into the defence there, Aaron Sharpe.
Yeah, despite the dive. Andy Antle, unable to get it back. Hi!
Yeah, I like the change of pace of Aurelien Hichem but all of a sudden, oh my goodness me and now it's the turn of the Malaysians to apologize for hitting an opponent and they've dared to play defense here as of late and that's when I felt they were lacking in the early stages that got him on the forehead didn't it? Yes it did ...says he is well. Fajar Al-Sin playing the perfect lot at the perfect moment.
Once again it was the variation in pace and steepness of shots that did the damage. Well you said it earlier Steen, the Malaysians have got to find a bit of rhythm before the start of the second game because it's unlikely that they can come back in this Open game Mind you, why I say that I don't know When I watched the Indonesians yesterday, it's only 12 down, came back to win Fantastic. That's some of the best, perhaps the best that we've seen Alfian and Arianto play in a year's time. 13. Wonderful coverage. Seven game point opportunities for the number seven seeds from Indonesia.
Alfian and Arianto. Oh, that's well taken. Serve is over.
14-20. Good serve. 15-20.
Well you just never know in sport do you? Nothing is possible Third pinpoint has been brilliantly saved by the Malaysians. 16-20.
Thank you. Adieu. Brilliant, this time on their fourth game point opportunity, Fajar Alpian and Mohamed Orian Ardianco take the opening game.
21-16. 21-16 calls the umpire in an opening game lasting just a fraction over 17 minutes. I'm going to teach you how to do it. Well, quite telling the fact that the Indonesians were the first pair back on court.
In fact, the umpire, Paul de Kuyper, warning the Malaysians for not getting back on court a little quicker. So the defending champions Fajar Alfin and Mohamed Orian Adianto One game to the group 21-16 Let's see if they continue to flick Aaron Shaw Oh! That's brilliant. First of all, the return of the Flick serve by Ardy Hariton.
I'm sorry, it was Alfien, wasn't it? Yeah, it was. It was Alfien.
Oh! ...understanding. Yeah. Aaron Shaw was expecting Soui to intercept that. Yeah, I think he probably could have reached it as well.
That's going right. Yeah. Then that's the key at the moment. The Malaysians got to play the service situation better. Got to get it below the tape when they're returning and be really alert on the...
Can you show me your knee? Is it bleeding? Yes.
Yeah. Blood injury. So really, he wasn't bothered.
Did the rules of international sport dictate that blood injuries must get treated straight away? For obvious reasons. Well it is quite remarkable that the Malaysians, this is a seventh World Tour tournament final and all seven finals have either been at this elite level thousand or 750 baby criticized you know they won the world championships for not having won a waltz or event and as expected to eventually the victory came in then my open Yeah, but it is quite extraordinary to win a world championship gold medal first ever for malaysian for malaysia across all disciplines And yet not of one for any world tour titles The world tour is stronger tournaments than the world championships. That's just the way it is 32 best players Of course at the World Championships we have continental representation and the number of pairs per country is limited. Ooh, it's the inside edge of the line too.
Yeah, the difficulty in the World Championships is that it's only once a year so you only have one chance where you have to hit it. But it's also the tournament where everybody wants to play cat so everybody's prepared for that. That's true. Hey! Colts, 7-0, 5-4 Go!
Well, there was much more positive play in that rally from the Malaysians, but still unable to convert in the end. And the problem at the moment is that they're playing a lot with Souyik at the frontcourt and Aaron Chah at the backcourt. They need to try and switch it around.
They're not strong enough against the well playing Indonesian pair in that formation. Fantastic. What reactions from Al-Khiyam. This is a very very good service return from Tjoljik. Then the third shot is going to be played within his range again, I suppose.
Stepping into the half court push. Rapid arm out stretch, taking it early. Three, two, one. Eight, five. Brilliant.
My goodness, Salah Fiyan has played well today, hasn't he? Yes, he's been outstanding. Look at that. And Sawiyik is coming crawling up on the frontcourt.
Thank you. They started out fantastic, the Indonesians, and they've not let go at any point. What?
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Amazing reactions. You know, sometimes a rally like that can change the momentum of a match. They had a number of opportunities.
Fiamma Nadia Anto couldn't really capitalize on it. Won this rally so far. You want to change it? Change it.
Seven, nine. Oh, that's a big wave. And they're back level.
Oh, my God. Oi! Ten, nine. He had played two while he was sitting on the floor. Thank you.
They're keeping as much as they can, the Indonesian, that's on Suwi. Clever game plan, flaking Aaron a lot, keeping him away from the net. They play him once in a while, but every block shot is in front of Suwi. Oh, that's magnificent. Well, the Indonesians are challenging that.
I think it's the first challenge of this men's doubles final. It's hard to have seen, but let's see. The successful one challenge remaining. Salva Zalba.
10-0. 5 of the last 6 points to the Malaysians It was called good. Well you know what I thought.
Yeah, I think you're right. Well we're going to have a mid-game interval, whatever the result of this. It was a very, very good challenge.
So it is the Indonesians who have the one point advantage to meet that excellent challenge. Okay, one more time. Two seconds, 20 seconds. 3, 2, 1, go!
No! No! Thank you. There's a situation there when he came forward to you he's got to realize that he's gonna get the next one as well He returns after each serve extremely well, that's the second time around but Alfian has played it straight down the line the easier shot to play would be across court exactly That's not the best of similes.
What a way with that. But it's also Aaron who has got to understand that his job here is somehow to protect... That's got to be a block, you can't just induce the fast game. So far the game plan of Alfianna Radjantso has been spot on but it shouldn't come as a surprise to the Malaysians.
Once again in the opening stages where Jan Schaap would pace in his shot so the Indonesians can block it in front of Sjoerd Wijk and then they have the trouble, the Malaysians. Well this is a fifth Super 1000 tournament final for the Malaysians. They've lost all four previous, that serves as a main short for Mbappe. Hajar, are you ready? Double hit by the Inverness.
Oh, service error. Service error. So weak. 17-14.
Oh my goodness! What on earth was he thinking there? 15-17 Ah, the end toll.
That's a couple of nervous looking shots he's played within the last three rallies. Fire! Fire! We shall serve here, for now, child. It was a good serve too.
Inching closer to the goal of a second consecutive All England title for the Indonesians. A three point advantage and three points away from retaining their title. 16, 18, 19, 20. 16-18. These next couple of rallies are crucial.
Same procedure for the Indonesians as soon as they can target is Zouyik Two points needed for Alfian and Adianto for a second consecutive All England title Oh, indecision. And it's match point opportunities. And look at the joy for Fajar Al-Din and Mohamed Orian Adianto. Great sportsmanship shown by the Malaysians. A second consecutive title for Alfie and Adianto.
Well after their remarkable comeback in the second game of yesterday's semi-final against It seemed that the Indonesians were on a bit of a roll Steve. They were and they started out in the same fashion today and I think that really more or less decided the matches within the first half of the first game. They got confident, they got the upper hand.
So, two straight games. Symmetry in the scoreline. 21-16, 21-16 in a match lasting just shy of 43 minutes. So, second Indonesian pair in the Super Series and World Tour era to win two consecutive All-England titles, following in the footsteps of their compatriots Gideon and Sukamolio. So, absolutely delighted Indonesians, and they're just getting ready to talk to our Master of Ceremonies, Howard Benson.
Let's get some reaction from the Yonex All England Men's Doubles Champions, retaining their title, Indonesia's Fajar Alfiano Mohamed Riyan Ariyadzo! Translation skills of Mo here. It looks like you're enjoying yourself there boys.
The smiles are very big. And secondly, we really enjoyed, we are relaxed, and we really enjoyed the match today. Tell us how tough a match that was. It's a very impressive victory.
You've retained your title, but how tough was it to get the win? We are a good couple. Today we just enjoy the game and don't want to think about the result.
The opponents are really, really tough. They are really incredible. What we do is we try to enjoy the game.
Well, it certainly looks like you've enjoyed it. Tell us about the support you've had this week because the fans have loved what you've done here in Birmingham. and especially for the great Indonesian ambassador who always supports the athletes.
Thank you. Basically, I'm very enthusiastic about this match. We thank all the supporters, the Indonesian badminton association, and also for the Indonesian ambassador who is here to support them. It's tremendous support here all these.
And just finally, how are you guys going to celebrate tonight? What's your plan for tonight? I have a flight at 8.50pm, so after this final, we will fly back to Indonesia.
Unfortunately, they will be flying home tonight. No No Fafasa, Alvian, Ahmed, Rian, Adi and... Well I hope we're just about ready for the prize presentation.
Let's join our Master of Ceremonies, Howard Benton. It's now time for the presentation of the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships 2024 Men's Doubles. Please welcome our presentation party.
Presentation party, Chris Jordan, Assistant Director, Neighborhoods, Sports, Events, Culture and Communities at Birmingham City Council and Sierra Sutsumi, Global Marketing Manager of Yonex Company Limited. Please welcome our Men's Doubles finalists. The runner-up in the All England Open badminton championships 2024 men's doubles from Malaysia, Aaron Chia and Soe Wee Yik. Well it was the seventh World Tour tournament final, the second here at the All England for Aaron Chia and Soe Wee Yik. For a second time here in Birmingham, five years after the first, they have to settle once again for second best.
And the Yonex All England Open 2024 men's doubles champions, retaining their title, Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Mohamed Rian. The second consecutive All England title. Their first title since winning the All England last year.
And Indonesian fans all over the world will be hoping that they have re-found the form that took them to world number ones. The Yonex All England Open Men's Doubles Champions Fajar, Alfian, Mohamed, Riyan, Arianto Thank you to our presentation party, Chris Jordan from Birmingham City Council and Sira Sutsumi, Global Marketing Manager of Yonex Company Limited. Congratulations once again to our players, runners-up, our Malaysians, Alan Chia and Soh Wuyi Yik, and our champions retaining their title, Fajar Alfia and Mohamed Riyad Arianto of Indonesia.
What a day it's been here at the All England. A finals day of course and it all started with women's doubles and Bae Kha-Na and Lee So-Hee did one better than last year by winning the title this and in doing so became the... 11th different pair to win here in 11 years in the winnings doubles discipline. It was a thrilling final, the only one that went the full distance. Then it was Carolina Marin who rolled back the years and won a second title nine years after.
the first before old Akane Yamaguchi was obviously struggling with injury and in fact retired halfway through the second game. Jonathan Christie won the all Indonesian battle in the men's singles in his first Super 1000 final beating Anthony Ginting in two straight games becoming the first Indonesian to lift this title for 30 years. The defending champions in the mixed doubles are Sheng Shiwei and Wang Wang Yashong won the battle against the three-time former champions Watanabe and Higashino.
So they themselves have now won a third All England title. Then it was the men's doubles and Alfea Nanadianto, also defending champions, won the All England Championships. And so they are the seventh different winners at the seventh World Tour event in the men's doubles this year.
That really... wonderful statistic of the diversity in this particular discipline. Well, of course, the HSBC BWF World Tour moves on to Switzerland next week, and then it goes on to Spain during this European leg of the World Tour before moving back out to Asia with the Thailand Open in May. But that's it from all of us here in Birmingham for another year. is especially Steve Pedersen and myself, Jill Clark.
Thanks for your company. And until the next time, bye for now.