BWF Ranking Update: Fajar/Rian Become World Number One
- Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix via AP
VIVA – Before the end of 2022, Indonesian men's doubles Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto have declared the first world-ranking men's doubles badminton player. Based on the BWF ranking update on December 27, 2022, the two managed to slide the position of the top men’s doubles, Takuro Hoki / Yugo Kobayashi from Japan.
By being ranked number one in the world, Fajar/Rian ended the dominance of the top position held by Hoki/Kobayashi since week 38 or on September 20.
This pair returned the world number one status to the Indonesian men's doubles, which was previously taken by Hoki/Kobayashi from the Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Gideon pair after lasting for approximately five years since September 2017.
The world's number one status adds to the pride of the badminton player from the SGS PLN Bandung club, who first won the "Most Improved Player of the Year" award from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in early December.
After that, Fajar Alfian said that all of this year's achievements cannot be separated from the struggle and cohesiveness with his partner, Rian Ardianto that has been formed for eight years.
"8 years of being a partner, 8 years of going through ups and downs together, getting stronger every year. Alhamdulillah, with all the struggles we have gone through, we can become World Number One & get the 'Most Improved Player of the Year' award," Fajar Alfian stated.