In one of the most bizarre championship matches seen in recent badminton history, Malaysia’s men’s doubles duo Arif Junaidi and Yap Roy King battled more than just their opponents — they had to contend with a leaking roof dripping water directly onto the court, and even onto Arif’s head mid-match.
Despite the strange and distracting circumstances, the pair showed remarkable focus and mental toughness to clinch their first-ever BWF World Tour title at the Macau Open 2025, defeating Indonesia’s world No. 8 pairing Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi in straight games, 22-20, 21-18.
Water from Above — and Pressure from All Sides
The final, held at the Macau East Asian Games Dome, was frequently interrupted due to a persistent leak from the venue’s ceiling. Almost every rally was followed by court mopping, adding frustration and unpredictability to the already intense showdown.
“It was really distracting,” Arif shared after the match. “At one point, water was literally dripping on my head when I jumped for a smash. But I kept reminding myself — our opponents were going through the same thing. I had to stay focused.”
Redemption Delivered: A Long-Awaited Victory
The triumph was especially meaningful for Arif and Roy King, who had previously lost to the same Indonesian pair in the Spain Masters 2024 final. That bitter defeat only fueled their determination to flip the script this time around.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment. We wanted revenge — and we got it,” Arif said.
80 Minutes of Chaos, Calm, and Champions’ Grit
While the match ended in two sets, it stretched to an intense 80 minutes, an unusually long duration for a straight-game encounter. The constant interruptions broke momentum for both sides, but it was the Indonesian duo who cracked first, showing signs of frustration and losing their composure.
A Coach’s Influence: Herry IP’s Tactical Impact
Arif credited the victory not just to on-court performance, but also to the guidance of their coach, Herry IP — a legendary name in the badminton coaching world.
“At first, it was difficult adapting to Coach Herry’s strategies. But after five tournaments under his mentorship, we’re finally syncing with his style,” Arif explained. “His video analysis before the final and presence at courtside really boosted our confidence.”
The Malaysian pair entered the match with a 1-3 head-to-head record against Sabar and Reza, making the win even sweeter.
More Than Just One Match Affected
The leaky roof didn’t spare other finals either. In the men’s singles final, Malaysia’s Justin Hoh — currently ranked world No. 45 — was visibly uncomfortable on the slippery court and couldn’t play freely. He lost 15-21, 5-21 to Indonesia’s world No. 25, Alwi Farhan.
The mixed doubles final saw fewer disruptions, but Malaysia’s Jimmy Wong and Lai Pei Jing were defeated by Denmark’s experienced pair Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje.
Praise from BAM Despite Poor Conditions
While the venue’s condition raised eyebrows, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) chose to highlight the composure and maturity shown by their athletes.
“We’re incredibly proud of how Arif and Roy King handled themselves despite the repeated stoppages,” said Datuk Kenny Goh, BAM’s Secretary-General. “Their ability to focus in such conditions shows their growth and mental strength.”
