Indonesian men's singles player Alwi Farhan said his success in controlling his urge to rush to kill the ball was the key to his victory over Minoru Koga in the round of 16 of the 2026 Australian Open at Quaycentre, Olympic Boulevard.
The third seed had to first lose the opening game before turning things around and defeating the Japanese athlete 20-22, 21-16, 21-9.
"Thank God, I was able to overcome all the problems on the field. It wasn't easy, though. My opponent was smaller, but he didn't give up. That actually boosted my motivation," Alwi said in an official PBSI statement after the match.
"As time goes by, I become more aware and more able to control my condition," he added.
The match was a test of Alwi's patience. Minoru, despite his short stature, was able to extend rallies and frequently return the ball in difficult positions, forcing Alwi to quickly finish his attacks.
Alwi acknowledged that his opponent had a unique style, being able to maximize his strengths, including through tight defense and unpredictable ball returns.
