All England: Three-Decade Wait Ends
One sentiment stood out after the men’s singles final at the YONEX All England 2024 yesterday: it was a moment of glory for Indonesian men’s singles, not just for Jonatan Christie alone.
· DEV SUKUMAR
It wasn’t just that no Indonesian men’s singles player in three decades had triumphed at a tournament in which the country has such a rich history. In an Olympic year, the months leading up to this year’s All England haven’t been noteworthy for Indonesia.
That is precisely why Christie kept emphasising the “we” instead of the “I” during his post-match comments. He didn’t see it as the story of an individual winning one of the most important titles on the circuit. As his vanquished opponent Anthony Sinisuka Ginting quipped: “Maybe there wouldn’t be me without Jonatan, nor he without me”.
Each had pushed the other, through all the disappointments and heartaches, until it all came together in the 125th year of the tournament all Indonesians hold dear. That Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto added a second gold on finals day added to the cheer of the Indonesians as they celebrated their most successful All England in a decade.