Kevin Sanjaya Optimistic Fajar/Fikri Can Compete At Elite Level

JAKARTA Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo is optimistic that the pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri can compete at the elite level when they make their debut in an international event at the Japan Open 2025 next week.

The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) earlier last month confirmed that Fajar/Fikri would play together for a while in three Asian tour tournaments this month.

Kevin considered that the potential of these two names to compete at the elite level was quite open because in this year's calendar there were no truly consistent men's doubles.

"It should be enough to compete with elite players in the world. Moreover, now no one is really consistent in terms of level of play," said Kevin.

PBSI decided to pair the two names above because Daniel Marthin as a partner of Fikri still had to recover due to injury. Meanwhile Rian takes a break for family affairs.

Fajar and Fikri are not foreign couples. Although they have never played together at the international level, the two of them have played together in the National Championship representing SGS PLN.

"In individual terms, both of them are quite good. So, I think it is very much expected (to compete)," said Kevin.

Fajar/Fikri will play together at the Japan Open (15-20 July 2025), China Open (22-27 July 2025), and Macau Open (29 July 2025 to 3 August 2025).

Indonesia is expected to compete in the three events after only getting two Super 300 BWF titles in this year's calendar, each at Thailand Masters and Taipei Open 2025.