Fajar/Fikri Hold Hope at the China Masters

SHENZHEN, TUESDAY – Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri are striving to fulfill the hopes of many people and themselves as they compete in the China Masters badminton tournament. Their performances in two tournaments serve as preparation to consistently compete at a high level.

Efforts to realize that hope began with a victory in the first round held at the Shenzhen Arena, China, on Tuesday (16/9/2025). Through fast play, particularly in anticipating shots at the front of the court, Fajar/Fikri defeated the home representatives, Huang Di/Liu Yang, with a score of 21-10, 21-17.

I hope we can shoulder this responsibility. Fikri and I want to get through it with mutual trust.

They could face another Chinese pair in the second round, namely Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang, if the sixth seeds win their first match on Wednesday. Liang/Wang, the silver medalists of the Paris 2024 Olympics, will compete against William Kryger Boe/Christian Faust Kjaer in the opening round.

"After winning the China Open, there are certainly many hopes that want us to continue to achieve, and we hope for the same. Hopefully, we can bear this responsibility. Fikri and I want to go through it with mutual trust," said Fajar.

Hope for Fajar/Fikri is also held by the PBSI management and the men's doubles coaches of the national training center. The coaches paired them again based on their performance and results at the Japan Open Super 750 and China Open Super 1000 in July.

In fact, the two tournaments were participated in because Fajar had to fulfill his obligations as an athlete ranked in the top ten in the world, while at the same time, Muhammad Rian Ardianto could not compete due to family matters. Fikri's partner, Daniel Marthin, also had to be absent due to injury.

However, the results of the quarter-finals at the Japan Open and the title brought back from the China Open prompted the coach to continue the partnership of Fajar/Fikri after the World Championship. The men's doubles coaching team of the main national training center, led by Antonius Budi Ariantho, is seeking the best formation of men's doubles ready to compete at the highest level starting in 2026, with the primary target being the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Moreover, the qualification period for LA 2028 will begin in 2027.

Therefore, Fajar/Fikri will be paired again, at least until the end of 2025. In addition to the China Masters, the tournaments already on their agenda include the Korea Open, from September 23 to 28, as well as tournaments in Europe, the Denmark and France Opens, in October.

With the pairing of Fajar and Fikri, Rian partnered with Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan, who usually plays alongside the young player, Rahmat Hidayat. Rian/Yeremia also competed in the China Masters but lost in their debut appearance as a pair.

They surprised the third seeds from Malaysia, Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izuddin, by winning the first game, but ultimately lost 21-12, 11-21, 20-22. Rian/Yeremia had the opportunity to win the final game when they managed to equalize the score at 20-20 after trailing 14-20, but they could not maintain the momentum when they needed two points to win.

"It certainly feels different. This is a new experience for me to play alongside someone other than Fajar in an official tournament. As a doubles player, one must be ready for changes in partners. I have increased my individual preparation before playing here," said Rian, who has partnered with Fajar for 11 years.

Rian also stated that in order to participate in the upcoming tournament, namely the Korea Open from September 23 to 28, he and Yeremia must maintain better focus. When facing Goh/Izuddin, they often made mistakes when given opportunities to easily score points.

The men's doubles national training squad is also represented by Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin, whose formation has been maintained. They will compete in the first round on Wednesday against Kenya Mitsuhashi/Hiroki Okamura (Japan).

Another men's doubles pair, Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, lost to Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi with scores of 16-21, 20-22. Sabar/Reza did not perform as solidly as they did a year earlier when they reached the final of the China Masters by defeating top world pairs such as Goh/Nur and Liang/Wang.

When facing Hoki/Kobayashi, Sabar/Reza made many mistakes in easy shots, thus eliminating the opportunity to extend the match to three games after leading 20-16 in the second game.

"We must evaluate the non-technical aspects, especially the mental state. We also need to pay more attention to the conditions during the tournament in the second week," said Sabar, who participated in the Hong Kong Open, a week prior to the China Masters, and reached the quarter-finals.

In addition to the men's doubles, the women's doubles sector is implementing a partnership change program in the remaining time of 2025. After four pairs competed in the Hong Kong Open, three of them will play in the China Masters.

Lanny Tria Mayasari/Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi began their journey in the women's doubles squad by competing on the first day of the tournament. They lost to the world number one pair, who are the world champions, Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning, with a score of 11-21, 16-21.

Nevertheless, there is a positive aspect demonstrated by Lanny/Amalia from the match. "In Hong Kong, our rotation was not good, we had not found the desired pattern. In this match, the rotation was better even though we lost," said Lanny.

At the Hong Kong Open, Lanny/Amalia reached the second round, just like Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari who will compete in the first round of the China Masters on Wednesday.

To demonstrate their ability to perform better, Febriana/Meilysa face a significant challenge. They will be up against the second seeds, Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan. Meanwhile, Rachel Alessya Rose/Febi Setianingrum will compete against Rui Hirokami/Sayaka Hobara.

From the singles squad, only Putri Kusuma Wardani competed on the opening day. Putri won against Chiu Pin Chian with a score of 21-15, 21-15 and will face Sim Yu-jin in the second round.

Three other representatives from the men's singles will compete in the first round on Wednesday. They are Jonatan Christie, Alwi Farhan, and Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.