RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian men’s doubles shuttlers Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri reclaimed their dominance at the net to secure a place in the semifinals of the BWF World Tour Super 750 Singapore Open 2026, defeating Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin in a tense three-game battle.

The eighth-seeded Malaysians pushed the match into a decider, but Fajar/Fikri held firm to win 21-18, 10-21, 21-14 in the quarterfinals at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, May 29, 2026, Antara reported.

Fikri expressed his delight after the victory. “We are very happy and grateful to reach the semifinals again. This gives us more motivation to stay focused and make the most of tomorrow’s opportunity,” he said, noting that the crowd’s stronger support for the Malaysian pair only fueled their determination.

Fajar admitted the match was far from easy, especially after Goh/Izzuddin seized control in the second game. “In the first game we dominated the front court, but in the second they took charge, particularly Goh Sze Fei who was very aggressive at the net. We struggled a lot,” he explained.

Determined not to repeat the same mistakes, Fajar/Fikri adjusted their strategy in the third game. “From the start of the decider, we didn’t want to lose the net battle. Whoever served or played in front, we had to win those exchanges. With the shuttle flying fast, controlling the front court was the key,” Fajar said.

The Indonesian duo now await the winner between Malaysia’s Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik and China’s Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang. Fajar acknowledged the challenge ahead. “Whoever we face tomorrow will be tougher. We must prepare the right strategy and maintain our stamina,” he added.

Fajar also voiced support for Indonesia’s rising singles player Alwi Farhan, who is set to face Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in hopes of joining them in the semifinals. “Hopefully Alwi can win and follow us into the semifinals,” he concluded.

This result reinforces Fajar/Fikri’s reputation as one of Indonesia’s most resilient doubles pairs, capable of adapting under pressure and keeping the nation’s hopes alive in Singapore. ***