RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian shuttlers, men's doubles pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani made a strong start to their 2026 China Open campaign by defeating Malaysia's newly formed partnership of Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai in straight games, earning a confidence-boosting victory at one of badminton's most prestigious tournaments.

Competing in the opening round of the BWF World Tour Super 1000 event in Changzhou, China, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Sabar and Reza secured a 21-17, 21-19 victory to advance to the round of 16.

"We're grateful to win our first-round match. With the windy court conditions and the newly paired Aaron duo, we knew we had to stay alert from the beginning. We tried to control the match, keep applying pressure, and dominate the front court to create more scoring opportunities," Sabar said in a statement released by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) on Tuesday, July 21, as quoted by Antara.

The Indonesian pair dictated play from the outset by taking the initiative at the net, a strategy that limited their opponents' ability to develop their attacking game.

However, Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai mounted a strong challenge, particularly in the second game. Sabar and Reza had to work hard to break through the Malaysian defense before sealing the win by a narrow two-point margin.

Reza praised the quality of the Malaysian pairing despite their recent partnership. "Both players are excellent individually. We all know Aaron Chia's quality, while Aaron Tai is a talented young player with great potential. There were several moments when it was difficult for us to penetrate their defense," Reza said.

The victory also marked positive progress for Reza, who had struggled with a recurring back injury during the 2026 Japan Open. He revealed that his condition has improved significantly after undergoing treatment and hopes to reach full fitness as the tournament progresses.

"My back still feels a little uncomfortable, but it's about 80 percent better after several treatment sessions. I felt much better today than I did at the Japan Open. Hopefully, by the next rounds it will continue improving so I can perform at my best," Reza concluded.

The China Open 2026 is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the BWF World Tour, carrying Super 1000 status, the highest regular level on the circuit outside the season-ending World Tour Finals. The tournament takes place from July 21-26, 2026, at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China, with a total prize purse of USD 2 million. ***