Indonesia Masters: Istora Fairytale in Motion
How often do players making their Istora Senayan bow get to stay unbeaten – that too as qualifiers – until the semifinals of a big event.
· PREM KUMAR & DIANNE PIERRE
That’s been the story of mixed pair Jesper Toft and Clara Graversen at DAIHATSU Indonesia Masters 2024 so far – the Danes doing it in style to boot in the quarterfinals today by silencing the home crowd with a composed 37-minute 21-15 21-16 win over Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati.
Although Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin went on to finish runners-up after starting in the Indonesia Masters qualification rounds last year, no European player has pulled off the feat at the hallowed venue since the HSBC BWF World Tour came into being in 2018.
"I'm feeling overwhelmed, I've got goosebumps,” said an emotional Graversen. “We didn't expect to reach the semifinals. We came from qualifying, we just wanted to make the main draw. Every match since has been a bonus.