Sometimes to really understand and appreciate sport, we need to look beyond the obvious. Beyond the victory or defeat to understand both the intricacies of the tactics, and the roles of each player within a doubles pair or team.
It’s quite natural that our admiration focuses on the player hitting the winner, or the footballer who scores the spectacular goal. But while the striker reaps the praise from adoring fans, we should remember it’s very often the mid-fielder who has set him/her up with an accurate pass.
In the same way the wonderful front court player in badminton relies on a hard worker on the rear court who has the tactical awareness, vision and accuracy to set up his/her partner on the front court.
Mohammad Ahsan fulfilled that role to perfection. Fast, accurate, and tactically astute, it was Ahsan, by his control and placement from the rear or mid-court, who so often set up, or provided the opportunities for Setiawan to showcase his brilliance at the net.
Those complementary qualities of Ahsan, and the importance of the playmaker were showcased perfectly in the final of the 2013 World Championships, where Ahsan was, in my opinion, the most influential player on court.
Whilst having a specific role within his partnership with Setiawan, Ahsan was also extremely versatile. He could also take the lead as the front court player when required, and he could adapt his style to play with any partner – as proved by the fact he is the only men’s doubles player to win world championship medals with 3 different partners.
There is no doubt our admiration was drawn to Hendra Setiawan’s wonderful anticipation, his front court play, and his extensive repertoire of winners. But to the true connoisseurs of the sport, there is also a real understanding and appreciation of the sheer brilliance with which Ahsan carried out his crucial role within the partnership; and therefore, the enormous, and vital contribution he made to the incredible success of the “The Daddies”.
Happy retirement Mohammad Ahsan.
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"Pesawat Tempur TNI AU Kawal Kepulangan Presiden ke-7 RI ke Solo"
Delapan pesawat tempur TNI Angkatan Udara mengawal pesawat Boeing 737 dengan nomor registrasi A-7309 Skadron Udara 17 yang membawa Presiden ke-7 Republik Indonesia, Ir. H. Joko Widodo, menuju Solo pada Minggu (20/10/24).
Pesawat tersebut lepas landas dari Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma menuju Bandara Adi Soemarmo dengan dikawal pesawat tempur TNI AU sebagai bentuk penghormatan kepada Presiden ke-7 RI yang telah mengakhiri masa jabatannya sebagai kepala negara.
Dalam pengawalan tersebut, TNI AU mengerahkan empat pesawat F-16 Fighting Falcon dari Skadron Udara 3 dan Skadron Udara 14, tiga pesawat T-50i Golden Eagle dari Skadron Udara 15, serta satu pesawat Sukhoi SU-30 MK2 dari Skadron Udara 11.
Dalam penerbangan ini, Flight Leader pesawat tempur TNI AU, Letkol Pnb Bambang Aulia “Sphinx” Yudhistira memberikan penghormatan khusus dari kokpit dengan menyampaikan pesan, “Selamat sore yang terhormat Bapak Joko Widodo beserta Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo. Izinkan kami berbicara dari kokpit pesawat tempur yang mengawal pesawat Bapak dan Ibu dari sebelah kanan dan kiri. Kami adalah Flight pesawat tempur TNI Angkatan Udara dari Skadron Udara 3, Skadron Udara 11, Skadron Udara 14, dan juga Skadron Udara 15.”
Flight Leader melanjutkan pesannya, “Dalam kesempatan ini, izinkan kami mengucapkan selamat atas purna tugas Bapak sebagai Presiden Republik Indonesia. Kami mengucapkan terima kasih atas segala karya Bapak dan Ibu dalam memajukan Bangsa Indonesia, terutama dalam memperkuat kemampuan TNI Angkatan Udara. Merupakan suatu kebanggaan bagi kami untuk mengawal Bapak dan Ibu dalam penerbangan bersejarah ini. Teriring doa kami, semoga Bapak dan Ibu senantiasa diberikan kesehatan serta kebahagiaan di masa purna tugas. Kami juga memohon doa Bapak dan Ibu agar kami dapat melanjutkan perjuangan Bapak dan Ibu bagi Bangsa ini, dalam mempertahankan kedaulatan Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia melalui TNI Angkatan Udara.”
Menutup pesan dari kokpit, Flight Leader menambahkan, “Selamat menikmati penerbangan bersejarah ini, salam hormat dari kami para crew TNI Angkatan Udara. Salam Swa Bhuana Paksa. Terima kasih, Selamat sore.”
Presiden ke-7 RI, Joko Widodo, membalas penghormatan tersebut dengan mengatakan, “Saya Joko Widodo mengucapkan terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya atas dukungan dan pengabdian saudara-saudara semuanya, saya yakin kedaulatan udara, kedaulatan negara kita akan selalu terjaga atas pengabdian dan perjuangan saudara-saudara. Sekali lagi terima kasih.”
We’re deeply saddened to learn of Liam Payne’s tragic passing today. During this difficult time, our hearts remain with his family, loved ones, and fans.