France's Popov Brothers Halt Indonesia’s Sabar/Reza at All England 2026
- 04 Mar 2026 20:34 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian men’s doubles pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani bowed out in the second round of the All England 2026 after struggling to adapt to the shuttlecock conditions. Playing at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Wednesday, March 4, the seventh-seeded duo fell to France’s Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov in straight games, 12-21, 12-21.
“We had difficulties today because the shuttlecock was very slow. Our attacks didn’t penetrate, and when they countered, we weren’t ready,” Reza admitted in a statement released by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), as quoted by Antara.
His partner Sabar echoed the sentiment, noting the shuttlecock felt heavier than usual, which compounded the challenge against the Popov brothers’ sharp and disciplined play.
The defeat marked a reversal of fortunes for Sabar/Reza, who had beaten the French pair in straight games at the quarterfinals of the Hylo Open 2025. “This was only our second meeting, but today’s conditions were completely different. We couldn’t bring out our best performance,” Reza said.
Despite the setback at the prestigious BWF Super 1000 event, the Indonesians remain determined to bounce back. “We need to evaluate and learn from this match. Hopefully, we can perform better in the upcoming tournaments,” Sabar emphasized. ***
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