TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian men's doubles duo Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri hope their successful defense of the 2026 China Open title becomes a catalyst for the revival of the country's men's doubles sector. They aspire for this victory to inspire younger pairs to compete at the world's elite level.
Fajar and Fikri secured the BWF World Tour Super 1000 China Open 2026 title by overcoming South Korean pair Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae in a hard-fought three-game battle, 16-21, 21-19, 21-19, at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center on Sunday, July 26, 2026.
"This is our fortune and the result of our hard work. Hopefully, it will be a momentum for the men's doubles to improve further. We hope that our juniors are motivated to keep chasing us and narrowing the ranking gap. So, at the top level, [Indonesia has] not only two pairs, but three, four, or even five pairs capable of competing," Fajar said in an official statement released by the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI).
The victory marks back-to-back China Open titles for the duo. Just a week prior, they also claimed the 2026 Japan Open crown, sealing two consecutive World Tour titles within two weeks.
Grinding Out the Final
Fajar admitted that the final was exhausting, as top-ranked Kim and Seo played at a high tempo and took aggressive risks. "They played with great determination, daring to try everything, which felt somewhat different from [our match] last week," Fajar noted.
He pointed to his seamless court coverage and communication with Fikri as the turning point after dropping the opening game. "I am grateful to Fikri, who covered every corner of the court," he said.
Fikri added that the victory provides crucial momentum heading into the remainder of the season, particularly the upcoming World Championships. "Once we return home, we will immediately undergo intensive preparation," he said.
In the final, Fajar and Fikri initially struggled against Kim and Seo's aggressive play. After matching their opponents until 9-9 in the opening game, the Indonesian pair lost momentum and dropped the game 16-21. They bounced back in the second game. Their play became more structured after the interval, capitalized on several errors from the South Korean pair to win 21-19, and forced a deciding game.
In the third game, Kim and Seo took early control and led 7-4. However, Fajar and Fikri gradually regained command of the rally pace. They fought back to lead 18-15 before sealing the match with a 21-19 victory. The win ensured Indonesia did not return empty-handed from the China Open 2026 after representatives in the other four sectors fell short.
Built on Mutual Trust
Mutual trust proved to be the decisive factor for Fajar and Fikri throughout the tournament. After overcoming home favorites Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in the semifinals a day earlier, Fajar emphasized that their growing chemistry was key to reaching the final again.
"Returning to the China Open final and making a second final in two consecutive weeks is thanks to mutual trust. I trust Fikri, and vice versa. We also always trust everything within the team," Fajar said.
In that semifinal, the second-seeded duo defeated Liang and Wang 21-19, 14-21, 21-19. They briefly surrendered their lead in the final game due to difficult wind conditions on court, but managed to secure crucial points to seal their spot in the final.
Fikri noted that the home pair posed a tougher challenge than in their previous meeting at the Singapore Open, fueled by strong crowd support in Changzhou. "Here, in front of their home crowd, they showed incredible fighting spirit. No matter how far behind they were, they kept trying," Fikri said.
Defending the China Open title extends Fajar and Fikri's strong run following their Japan Open victory. The consecutive BWF World Tour Super 1000 titles provide significant momentum for the Indonesian pair heading into the 2026 World Championships.
Read: Indonesia's Fajar/Fikri Win Japan Open 2026 Men's Doubles Title
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