RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's men's doubles pair Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Japan Open after defeating Chinese Taipei's Fang-Chih Lee/Fang-Jen Lee in straight games, 21-14, 21-14.

The match lasted 32 minutes at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Thursday, July 16, 2026, marking the fourth meeting between the two pairs.

Fajar/Fikri delivered an impressive performance to maintain their perfect record against the Lee brothers. The Indonesian pair opened the first game with five consecutive points and took the interval lead.

After the interval, they extended their advantage by scoring four straight points. Although the Chinese Taipei pair briefly responded with four consecutive points, Fajar/Fikri held their composure to secure the opening game.

The second game followed a similar pattern, with Fajar/Fikri once again racing to a five-point lead. They maintained consistent scoring throughout the game to seal the victory.

After the match, Fajar said they had carefully prepared their strategy against the Chinese Taipei pair, noting their opponents' strong rotation.

"We prepared our strategy by studying their strengths and weaknesses. We've faced this Chinese Taipei pair several times, and they have very solid rotation and excellent defense," Fajar said.

"So, we tried not to rush. We played more relaxed while figuring out how to build our attacks with good structure," he added.

Muhammad Shohibul Fikri said he was pleased with their improved performance compared to the previous round. He was particularly satisfied with how well they controlled the front court.

"We managed to apply a very good front-court game, so they couldn't escape the pressure. We controlled the match until the end," Fikri said.

Fajar/Fikri will next face England's men's doubles pair Ben Lane/Sean Vendy in the quarterfinals. The Indonesians are determined to continue their winning run.

"We're facing Ben Lane/Sean Vendy tomorrow, and we want to win. We have to prepare our strategy and discuss with our coach how to play against them under these court conditions," Fajar concluded. (Diffa Sephiwardhani)