Indonesia's Leo/Daniel Reach Final at Thailand Open 2026 After Hard-Fought Win

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s men’s doubles duo Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin have rediscovered their rhythm, advancing to the final of the BWF World Tour Super 500 Thailand Open 2026 after defeating China’s He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu in straight games.

The semifinal clash at Nimibutr Stadium, Bangkok, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, ended with a convincing 21–15, 21–18 victory in 44 minutes.

The win marks their first final since reuniting this season, a significant milestone after the pair had previously been split. Daniel admitted the transition back together was seamless.

“We’ve played as partners before, so after being reunited, we didn’t need much adaptation. Now we share the same goal to win together,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

The semifinal was not without challenges. In the opening game, Leo/Daniel struggled to find rhythm, allowing the Chinese pair to dictate early exchanges. Momentum shifted after the interval when the Indonesians tightened their defense and unleashed faster attacks, pulling away to secure the first game.

The second game was tighter, with He/Ren forcing long rallies and testing Indonesia’s composure. Daniel stood out with disciplined defense and sharp finishing, while Leo’s occasional errors kept the scoreline tense.

At 19–17, two misjudgments narrowed the gap to 19–18, but Daniel’s powerful smash earned match point. In the final rally, the Indonesians held firm to close out the match 21–18.

Leo praised his partner’s resilience, especially during a crucial moment. “At 15–13 in the second game, Daniel managed to neutralize their attack even after falling, then got back up to intercept at the net. That was extraordinary,” he said.

Both players expressed gratitude for reaching the final, particularly Daniel, who is returning from a year-long injury layoff. “I didn’t expect to reach the final right away, but I’m thankful. Praise God,” he said.

“I’m really happy to be in the final again with Daniel. Full respect to him for coming back strong in his first tournament after a year out,” Leo added.

Looking ahead, Leo/Daniel remain cautious as they prepare to face India’s top seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty, who earlier overcame Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin 19–21, 22–20, 21–16.

“Tomorrow we must be more alert in every aspect. Their attacks need to be anticipated, and the court conditions -- like wind direction and shuttlecock speed -- change daily, so we must stay ready,” Leo noted.

Daniel echoed the sentiment, stressing consistency. “We don’t want to be satisfied too quickly. There’s still the final tomorrow and many more tournaments ahead that we need to prepare for,” he concluded.

This run to the final not only signals a revival of the Leo/Daniel partnership but also strengthens Indonesia’s hopes in men’s doubles at the Thailand Open. ***