January 20, 2026 | 06:14 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta — Indonesian men’s doubles pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri opened their campaign at the Indonesia Masters 2026 with a convincing straight-games victory on Tuesday, January 20, at Istora Senayan, Jakarta.
The world No. 4 duo defeated Chen Zhi-Ray and Lin Yu-Chieh of Taiwan 21–16, 21–10 in just 30 minutes to secure a place in the round of 16 of the BWF Super 500 tournament.
Fajar said familiarity with their opponents played a key role in the win, as the two pairs had met twice before, most recently at the Malaysia Open 2026 earlier this month.
“They are not easy to play against. They have exceptional speed and power,” Fajar told reporters after the match. “Our previous meeting in Malaysia became an important reference for us today.”
He added that careful preparation helped them gain the upper hand. “We reviewed videos from that match and studied their patterns again, especially from a technical perspective,” he said.
Fajar and Fikri dominated the contest with a fast, aggressive style, relying on sharp attacking play and powerful smashes that they have been refining ahead of the tournament.
The pair began the 2026 season at the Malaysia Open, where they reached the semifinals before losing to home favorites Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in straight games.
Fajar has been partnering with Fikri since mid-2025, and the partnership made an immediate impact by winning the China Open 2025, a BWF Super 1000 event, where they also defeated Aaron and Soh in the final.
However, since that breakthrough title, the pair have yet to add another trophy. They reached four finals last year but fell short on each occasion. Competing at home in Jakarta, they are hoping the Indonesia Masters can mark a return to the winner’s circle.
Fikri said the strong support from Indonesian fans at Istora provided an extra boost.
“The crowd support was amazing. It really lifted our spirits, and we didn’t even feel tired during the match,” he said.
He expressed hope that the stands would be even fuller in their next appearance. “A packed stadium creates a very positive atmosphere for us as athletes.”
Earlier on Tuesday, another Indonesian men’s doubles pair, Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin, also advanced to the round of 16 after defeating France’s Eloi Adam and Leo Rossi in three games, 22–20, 15–21, 21–10.
Read: Anthony Ginting Launches Comeback at Indonesia Masters 2026
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