Indonesia Masters 2026: Sabar/Reza Comeback Hajar Wakil Malaysia

Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani won a dramatic victory to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 Indonesia Masters (doc. PBSI).

JAKARTA - The Indonesian men's doubles, Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, ensured their move to the quarterfinals. They are the first Indonesian men's doubles to advance to the last eight.

Sabar/Reza was forced to bounce back from the first game against the Malaysian pair, Nur Moh Azriyn Ayub/Tan Wee Klong, with a final score of 19-21, 21-16, and 21-17 at the Senayan Stadium, Jakarta, on Thursday, January 22, 2026, afternoon WIB.

Reza said that they waited too much in the first game and then lost focus in the final points, giving the advantage to the opponent's pair.

"However, in the second and third games we were able to improve the situation, be more daring to take the initiative, and finally turn the tide," said Reza after the match.

After losing the first game, the home pair were able to bounce back in the next two games and turned the tide even though the match was not easy.

Sabar assessed that the fast game implemented by Azriyn/Tan made them difficult to develop the game, especially in the first game. Even though they were ahead, Sabar/Reza failed to maintain consistency until they finally lost momentum.

"The opponent tried to speed up the tempo of the game and we were not ready, the focus also dropped. In the second and third games we tried to play more focused and more neat. Thank God the results can be maximum," said Sabar.

This victory feels even more meaningful considering Sabar's physical condition is not fully in good condition. In the third game, he had a nosebleed and felt dizzy, especially during the interval so he had to fight extra to finish the match.

The pair of gold medal winners at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games emphasized that the recovery of physical condition was the main priority. Sabar admitted that the crowded tournament schedule, coupled with extreme weather changes, had quite an impact on his body condition.

"The evaluation is that we will certainly recover the condition first. My personal condition is indeed less fit, my head feels dizzy, and I also had a nosebleed," said Sabar.