JAKARTA - Indonesian men's singles badminton player Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah had to settle for finishing the fight in the 16th round of the 2026 Indonesia Masters.
His move was followed by Singaporean representative Loh Kean Yew, after undergoing two straight games at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Despite being eliminated, Ubed - Zaki Ubaidillah's nickname - was actually able to provide a fierce resistance, especially in the first game. After the match, Ubed admitted that Loh Kean Yew appeared to be more ready than their last meeting.
This was revealed by Ubed because the two players had previously met at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games, where Ubed was able to win two games directly in the quarterfinal round.
"There must be a difference. Today he looks more ready and does not want to lose. At critical points, such as when the score was 19-19 in the first game, he really showed his determination not to give up," Ubed said in an official statement.
According to Ubed, the main difference between the matches at the 2025 SEA Games and the 2026 Indonesia Masters lies in the mental condition and the situation of the match. He assessed that in the previous match, he could play more freely, while this time the pressure of the match at Istora quite affected his focus.
In his evaluation, Ubed admitted that he was still losing in terms of experience when compared to Loh Kean Yew. This can be seen from the opponent's ability to set the tempo of the game and control the situation when under pressure.
"Maybe if I say, I still lack experience. I haven't been able to really fight his game tempo. In the 2025 SEA Games, I can play more freely, while here it might be a little tense, especially playing at Istora with a lot of spectators," said the 17-year-old badminton player.
However, Ubed assessed that this match still provided many valuable lessons. He admitted that he had gained important experience regarding tempo management, game control, and how to face opponents who are more mature both technically and mentally.
"There are positive things I can get. I learned from him how to raise the tempo of the game. Then, when you are behind, how to still be able to control the opponent by controlling the shots, throws, and speed," he said.
Regarding the target, Ubed openly admitted that his achievement at the 2026 Indonesia Masters was not up to expectations. The PB Djarum player targeted at least to be able to step into the quarterfinals or even go further, considering that this tournament was held in front of the public itself.
"If the target, it hasn't been achieved. Before this tournament I had a discussion with the coach, the target is if I can get into the quarter finals or get further on a big court like this," said Ubed.
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