President Jokowi Congratulates Kevin/Marcus for Defending All England Title

Kevin/Marcus

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo congratulated Indonesia’s World Number 1 Badminton Men’s Double pair Kevin Sanjaya/Marcus Gideon for defending the title at the 2018 All England badminton championship – the oldest tournament in Badminton –  in Birmingham, England, Monday (19/3).

“Congratulations to Kevin Sanjaya/Marcus Gideon on defending the All England title. Get ready for other achievements. Indonesia is proud! -Jkw,” President Jokowi said through his Twitter account @jokowi on Monday.

Kevin/Marcus – the top seeds in the tournament – defended the All England Men’s Double title after beating Danish pair Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen 21-18 and 21-17 at the Final, while in the semifinals, Kevin/Marcus crushed another Danish Pair Mads Condrad Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding in two straight games 21-11 and 21-19.

Last year, the duo won the All England title after beating Chinese pair Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen in two straight games 21-19 and 21-14 at the Final.

Kevin and Marcus, the only Indonesians in the 2018 finals, kept the tradition of Indonesia’s medal at the All England alive since Indonesian Mixed doubles pair Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto won a title back in 2016.  Overall, Indonesian badminton players have won 46 titles of All England since 1959. Kevin/Marcus have followed Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky who won the titles two times in a row in 1995 and 1996.

Kevin and Marcus have also collected two titles so far this year, namely the Indonesian Masters and the India Open.  (*/ES) (RI/EP/NASTER)