Winning in Macau, Alwi Aims Higher

MACAU, SUNDAY – Young Indonesian badminton player, Alwi Farhan, has achieved his short-term target for 2025 by winning the Super 300 level BWF tournament. The title of champion at the 2025 Macau Open has set Alwi's sights on aiming for championships at higher levels.

Alwi won the Macau Open with an increasingly solid performance in each round. In the final at the Macau East Asian Games Dome, Sunday (3/8/2025), Alwi defeated Justin Hoh (Malaysia) with a score of 21-15, 21-5.

In five rounds, Alwi played three games in just one match, which was against fellow Indonesian player, Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah, in the second round. In the semifinals and finals, Alwi's opponents did not even reach 30 points. In the semifinals, he defeated the 2021 World Championship semifinalist and second seed, Lakhsya Sen (India), with a score of 21-16, 21-9.

However, the championship title from Alwi could not be added by Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, who lost in the men's doubles final. They were defeated by the Malaysian pair, Junaidi Arif/Roy King Yap, with scores of 20-22, 18-21. Sabar/Reza lost after leading 20-18 in the first game and 16-13 in the subsequent game.

The championship title from Alwi marks the fourth for Indonesia in the BWF World Tour competition, which includes Super 300, 500, 750, 1000, and the BWF Finals. Alwi matches the achievement of another young Indonesian player, Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu, who secured their first title from the BWF World Tour. They won the Taiwan Open Super 300.

Two other titles for Indonesia were achieved by Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti/Lanny Tria Mayasari at the Thailand Masters Super 300 and Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri at the China Open Super 1000.

In the future, I certainly aim for a higher level, namely Super 500, 750, 1000. My target is to complete all titles.

The emergence of Alwi and Jafar/Felisha as champions of the BWF World Tour represents a positive aspect amid Indonesia's lagging behind other countries in global competition. Out of the 18 Super 300-1000 tournaments that have been held, Indonesia is significantly behind China, which has amassed 24 titles. Above Indonesia are other countries, including South Korea with 16 titles, Thailand (12), and Japan (8).

Alwi is a 20-year-old player who has become the mainstay of the men's singles training camp while Anthony Sinisuka Ginting has just competed after a six-month absence. Anthony, who suffered a right shoulder injury, returned to the tournament in Japan and the China Open. Jafar/Felisha (aged 22 and 19) have also become the mainstay of the mixed doubles team.

"I am very grateful and happy. Winning the Super 300 tournament has been my short-term goal. I have been looking forward to this since the beginning of the year," said Alwi.

The athlete, ranked 25th in the world, has several achievements at the senior level in team championships. He was part of the Indonesian team when they reached the finals of the Thomas Cup 2024 and became a semifinalist in the Sudirman Cup 2025.

In individual tournaments, the best result before winning the Macau Open was becoming the champion of the Indonesia Masters Super 100. However, the experience gained from facing top world players, such as Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Anders Antonsen, gradually led Alwi to achieve higher accomplishments.

"In the future, I will definitely aim for a higher level, namely Super 500, 750, 1000. My target is to complete all titles," he said.

That spirit at least serves as initial capital for Alwi to face tougher competition at a higher level. At the level above Super 300, his best result was reaching the second round of the Indonesia Open Super 1000.

The achievements of athletes are not only assessed by the titles they obtain but also by the consistency of their performance in every challenge. Alwi will face this in a higher-level tournament.

In addition to Indonesia winning the men's singles title and athletes from Malaysia claiming the men's doubles title, athletes from three different countries triumphed in other categories. Chen Yu Fei (China) emerged as the best in women's singles after defeating Line Christophersen (Denmark) 21-17, 21-17. Denmark secured the championship in mixed doubles through Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Boje, while Hsieh Pei Hsan/Hung En Tzu (Taiwan) won the women's doubles event.

After the opening of Macau, the best athletes from various countries will compete in this year's largest individual tournament, the World Championship. This annual event, except when held during the Olympics, will take place in Paris, France, from August 25 to 31.