JAKARTA - The men's doubles Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri have advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Malaysia Open. They qualified after stopping the third-seeded from India, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty.
Fajar/Fikri secured the second semifinal ticket for Indonesia through a straight two-game victory 21-10 and 23-21 over the former world number one at the Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, January 9, 2026.
"Alhamdulillah, grateful, we were given smoothness in the match yesterday and given good results, we can win the match," said Fikri in a statement received.
This is Fajar/Fikri's second victory against Chirag/Satwiksairaj from a total of three meetings on the competitive arena.
The only defeat for Fajar/Fikri against the pair was in the BWF World Tour Finals 2025 group stage which took place last December in China.
Fajar/Fikri will next face the winner of Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani against the second seed of the host Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik.
"They (the two couples are) quite good opponents, yes, lately they have played very well, but we are ready tomorrow which must definitely give our best," said Fikri.
Indonesia previously secured one ticket through the men's singles Jonatan Christie. He qualified after stopping the Japanese mainstay, Kodai Naraoka.
Unfortunately, the women's doubles journey of Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari and the women's singles of Putri Kusuma Wardani had to end.
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