Japan Open 2023 Results: Bagas/Fikri Men's Doubles Also Advance To The Last 16

Indonesian men's doubles pair Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana while competing at the Japan Open 2023 at the Yoyogi Stadium in Japan, Wednesday (26/7/2023). (Between/PBSI)

JAKARTA - Indonesian men's doubles Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana completed a fierce and tough match against Malaysian doubles Man Wei Chong/Kai Wun Tee to advance to the round of 16 of the 2023 Open.

Bagas/Fikri underwent a rubber game against Man/Kai with a score of 21-11, 15-21, 22-20 in a match held at the Yoyogi Stadium in Japan, Wednesday.

The match was very tight, very tense, very fierce until the end. In the third game we were just trying to find points one by one point. We don't think how far behind, the important thing is how to keep trying to catch up," Fikri said, quoted from the official PBSI statement quoted by Antara.

"At the beginning of the third game we used to play in the front game. We had quite a hard time getting out of their game. After the interval, we outsmarted by not playing a lot of front games," added Bagas.

Furthermore, Fikri said he and Bagas tried to stay focused even though they were left behind by Man/Kai, especially in the third game when the two partners continued to take turns serving and no one wanted to give in.

"We focus on not giving easy points to the opponent when we are left behind. No pattern has been changed," said Fikri.

"Earlier, when we faced match point, we had given up, especially since my return has been continuously responsibilities, but maybe the sustenance, the opponent did not manage to reverse it. After that, our confidence resurfaced while it seemed that they were thinking too," he added.

Fikri said the defeat in the early rounds of the Korea Open last week made them try to get up and provide better progress.

"We are introspective of the results in Korea not to be afraid of losing, no matter how much we are left behind we have to keep trying to catch up. The spirit of never giving up must exist," said Fikri.

On the second day of the Japan Open 2023, Indonesia fielded nine representatives. In the men's singles number, Jonatan Christie managed to beat Malaysian representatives Cheam June Wei in two straight games 21-7, 21-9. Previously there was a representative of Indonesia in the men's singles number, namely Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, who lost to the host representative Kanta Tsuneyama 13-21, 18-21.

Furthermore, there are men's doubles Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan, Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto, and Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin.

Fajar/Rian have won over Chinese representative He Ji Ting/Zhou Hao Dong through the rubber game 20-22, 21-17, 21-10. Meanwhile, Pram/Yere failed to advance to the round of 16 after losing to Chinese seed Liang Wei Sidang/Wang Chang 21-16, 7-21, 16-21. Meanwhile, Leo/Daniel lost to India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty 16-21, 21-11, 13-21.

In the women's doubles number, Febriana Dwi Puji Kusuma/Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi continued their steps after overthrowing Japanese representatives Mei Sudo/Nao Yamakita 21-7, 21-13.