Fajar/Fikri's Consistency Awaited, Apriyani/Fadia Dampen Expectations

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Partner exchanges have occurred in the men's and women's doubles sectors of Indonesia's main badminton training center. Among them, some must continue their journey at a high level, while others must lower their expectations.

Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri is one of the pairs that will be monitored until the end of 2025 to find the best men's doubles formation for the Indonesian national badminton training center. In addition, the coach has paired Muhammad Rian Ardianto and Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan.

Thus, in the competition of the BWF World Tour since September, the Indonesian men's doubles will feature the strength of Fajar/Fikri, Rian/Yeremia, Leo Rolly Carnando/Bagas Maulana, and Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, who are independent players.

Before that, three Indonesian men's doubles ranked in the top ten of the world who are on the BWF invitation list will participate in the World Championship in France, from August 25 to 31. They are Fajar/Rian, Sabar/Reza, and Leo/Bagas.

After reaching the quarter-finals of the Japan Open and winning the China Open at the end of July, the coach decided to continue the partnership of Fajar/Fikri. According to the work program of the Central Board of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PP PBSI), the year 2025 is designated for finding the best formation in the doubles sector.

Initially, Fajar/Fikri were scheduled to compete only in the Japan and China Open tournaments due to the absence of their respective partners from the competition. Rian (Fajar's partner) was unable to compete as he awaited the birth of his first child. Meanwhile, Fajar, being one of the top ten men's doubles players in the world by the end of 2024, had an obligation to participate in the Super 1000 tournament. He was also required to play in the China Open.

Therefore, Fajar was paired with Fikri after his partner, Daniel Marthin, is still undergoing recovery due to a left knee injury. Daniel, who last competed in the Sudirman Cup championship last May, is expected to be able to compete again in January 2026.

Based on their performance in China, when Fajar/Fikri managed to defeat a top world pair, Antonius Budi Ariantho, the men's doubles coach of the Indonesian national training center, decided to keep pairing them until the end of the year. The former men's doubles athlete who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (together with Denny Kantono) wants to see the consistency of Fajar/Fikri competing at a high level.

PBSI wants to see more from us. I also have to think about the interests of the Indonesian men's doubles team. - Fajar Alfian

The next two tournaments that will be evaluated are the China Masters Super 750, from September 16 to 21, and the Korea Open Super 500 the following week.

At the China Open, Fajar/Fikri defeated three men's doubles ranked in the top five in the world (at the time of the tournament) from the quarter-finals to the finals. They are Seo Seung-Jae/Kim Won-ho (ranked first), Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang (5), and Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (2).

"Rotation is possible for the men's doubles players until the end of this year. The goal is to establish a permanent partnership starting in 2026 and to be ready for the Olympic qualification in 2027," said Antonius after training Fajar and his teammates at the PBSI national training center in Cipayung, Jakarta, Wednesday (6/8/2025).

Before the Fajar/Fikri duo was confirmed to continue, Fajar said Antonius invited him to a discussion the day before the China Open final. "We discussed plans for my next partner. Rian and I actually already had plans and targets for the future. Moreover, we were still ranked fourth in the world. So, at that time, I didn't immediately confirm anything to Koh Anton," Fajar said.

Fajar ultimately chose to continue the collaboration with Fikri. "PBSI wants to see more from us. I also have to think about the interests of the Indonesian men's doubles. Fikri is a potential young player who currently has no partner. Additionally, Rian also supports this decision because of our results at the China Open," said Fajar.

Fikri, who was informed by the coach that he would be paired with Fajar on Tuesday (5/8/2025), which was the deadline for the China Masters tournament registration, was pleased to receive confirmation of his partner quickly. "So, I can continue to compete, not just train," he said.

In preparation to compete alongside their new partner at the China Masters and Korea Open, Fajar/Rian have withdrawn from the Hong Kong Open tournament, scheduled for September 9-14, despite their names being on the participant list. In Japan and the China Open, Fajar/Fikri were able to play without pressure as they were a makeshift pair. This situation contrasts with the upcoming challenges they will face. They must anticipate tougher challenges as other pairs will be more vigilant.

One thing that will be done, Fajar said, is to strengthen their physical endurance to withstand attacks from stronger pairs. This factor must be improved because Fajar and Fikri share the same role, namely as playmakers who often play up front.

Antonius also stated that the playing pattern and rotation of Fajar/Fikri on the field will be given more attention considering they both play as forwards, unlike the previous pair.

Before the men's doubles established the formations of Fajar/Fikri and Rian/Yeremia, the women's doubles made changes first to four pairs. One of them is Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, which is actually not a new formation.

Before parting ways in August 2024 (when Apriyani was absent from the tournament for seven months due to injury), Apriyani/Fadia had been partnering since mid-June 2022, following Greysia Polii's retirement. Over the course of two years, they achieved three championship titles at the BWF World Tour level of Super 500 and 750, and became finalists at the World Championships in Denmark in 2023.

However, facing a "reunion" with Apriyani in September, Fadia lowered her expectations. She even said she would have to start from scratch.

In the participant list of the Hong Kong Open, for example, Apriyani/Fadia are categorized as qualifying round players. This is because they were ranked 110th in the world as of July 29, the ranking used during the tournament registration.

"It's possible. We have to play at the Super 100 level because of the rankings. We also have to find a competitive atmosphere together because playing in lower-tier tournaments isn't necessarily an easy challenge," said Fadia.

Fadia/Lanny, who currently hold the 16th position in the world rankings, are in the process of developing their skills to compete at the elite level. They have set higher targets after winning the Thailand Masters Super 300 in January. Fadia/Lanny have also been able to put up a strong fight in three games against several top doubles teams in the world, although they still faced defeats. Their nearest challenge is the World Championship.

However, as stated by Fadia and Lanny after training on Wednesday, they entrusted the partner exchange to the coach. "The coach invited us to discuss, one by one. I was asked who I would be compatible with if I had to change partners. I offered my opinion, but the final decision remains with the coach," said Lanny.

Fadia also entrusted the pair swap to the coach. "Hopefully, this swap can bring Indonesia's women's doubles team back to the top," she said.