Indonesian players put the disappointing results at the recent Asian tournaments behind them to qualify for three title matches at the Super 500 SATHIO GROUP Australian Open 2024.

Women’s singles starlet Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo led a quartet of shuttlers into Sunday’s showpiece, getting the ball rolling outfighting third seed Pai Yu Po 22-20 23-21 in a 41-minute battle. The final against Japanese Aya Ohori, the No.2 seed, will be the 18-year-old’s first on the HSBC BWF World Tour.

Shortly after, crowd favourites Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan held off the challenge of young Chinese Taipei pair Chen Zhi Ray/Lin Yu Chieh 21-14 17-21 21-11 to make their first title bout in over a year. The three-time world champions have not featured in one since losing to compatriots Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto at All England 2023.

“We are grateful we were able to win a semifinal after a while,” said Ahsan. “They are a good upcoming pair and have strong smashes. It wasn’t an easy match, especially in the second game where I made too many mistakes. Thankfully we kept at it and got the job done.”

Setiawan, winner in 2012 with the late Markis Kido and runner-up in 2013 with Ahsan and 2017 with Malaysian Tan Boon Heong, admitted they need to be at their best against top seeds He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu if they intend to end a five-year drought. The Daddies have not topped a podium after the 2019 HSBC BWF World Tour Finals.

“We are really happy to be back in a final but it won’t be easy against quality opponents. It’s important we prepare well for the test,” said the 39-year-old.

Women’s pair Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi, beaten finalists at Spain Masters and Thailand Open, won the shortest match of the three, 21-13 21-7 in 38 minutes, over home hopes Setyana Mapasa/Angela Yu.

Kusuma promised to make their third chance this season count against scratch pair Lai Pei Jing/Lim Chiew Sien.

“We are desperate to be champions. We will prepare accordingly and give our all,” she said.

Indonesian badminton went through four below par weeks prior to the exploits at the Quaycentre, returning one second place finish each at Thailand Open, Malaysia Masters and Singapore Open. Their home event, the Indonesia Open, did not have any local finalists.

→ Results (Semifinals)

→ Order of play (Finals)