June 1, 2026 | 10:23 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s men’s doubles pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri had to settle for a runner-up finish at the Singapore Open 2026 after falling to India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in a three-game final on Sunday.Competing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Fajar/Fikri took the opening game before eventually losing 21-18, 17-21, 16-21 to the Indian duo, who entered the tournament as the fourth seeds.Fajar said he and his partner had given their best in the title match but acknowledged that their opponents were the superior side on the day.“They played with great confidence and have a very lethal attack. Several times we were forced to lift the shuttle, and they were able to capitalize on those opportunities immediately,” Fajar said in a statement released by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) on Sunday.Fikri echoed his partner’s assessment, saying the pair struggled to cope with the relentless attacking pressure applied by Rankireddy and Shetty throughout the match.“We kept trying to get out of that pressure, but they were extremely solid,” Fikri said.Despite the defeat, the Indonesian pair remained optimistic about their prospects for the remainder of the season. They hope to continue improving their performances and maintain consistency across the BWF World Tour.Fajar and Fikri also stressed the importance of support from Indonesian badminton fans as they prepare for their next major assignment, the Indonesia Open 2026, which begins on Tuesday, June 2.“Hopefully we can continue to be consistent throughout the year. We have many targets this season, and the nearest one is the Indonesia Open next week,” Fajar said.The loss in the final also confirmed that Indonesia would leave the Singapore Open 2026 without a title.No Indonesian representatives managed to reach the final in the tournament’s other four disciplines, leaving Fajar and Fikri as the country’s sole finalists in Singapore.Read: Uruguay Names World Cup Squad, Leaves Out Luis Suarez
