RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has guaranteed a men’s doubles representative in the second round of the All England Open, after two of its pairs advanced to set up an all-Indonesian clash in Birmingham. Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Joaquin booked their place in the round of 16 after defeating South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk/Ki Dong Ju in a three-game battle, 17-21, 21-12, 21-19, at the Utilita Arena on Wednesday morning, March 4, 2026.

The victory made Raymond/Joaquin the first Indonesian pair at this year’s tournament to secure a second-round ticket, following earlier first-round exits by compatriots.

"We're definitely grateful to God for being able to finish the match unscathed and still winning. In the first game, we weren't used to the windy court conditions, so we couldn't control ourselves," Raymond said in his remarks as quoted by Antara.

"In the second game, we already knew how to play and continued in the third game, where we were behind for a while and then came back to take the lead," Raymond added, referring to their improved control after adjusting to court conditions.

Competing in their All England debut at the BWF Super 1000 level, the Australia Open 2025 champions said they were impressed by the tournament atmosphere. "The atmosphere is different from other tournaments. The carpet is also gray, so it feels very different," Raymond added.

In the second round, they will face fellow Indonesians Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, who advanced after defeating Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi in straight games, 21-9, 21-17.

Fajar/Fikri controlled the opening game from the start, building a 6-2 lead and later extending their advantage with six consecutive points to go 16-8 before closing it out 21-9. They carried the momentum into the second game, on Wednesday, March 4, racing to a 6-0 lead and maintaining a comfortable margin despite a late push from Ong/Teo, eventually sealing the match 21-17.

The upcoming encounter carries added intrigue, as Fajar/Fikri are seeking redemption after losing their two most recent meetings against Raymond/Joaquin, including a quarterfinal defeat at the Indonesia Masters 2026 on January 23. ***