Kevin/Rahmat Debut At The Korea Masters 2023

Men's doubles specialist Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (photo: DOK. PBSI)

JAKARTA Men's doubles specialist Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo will make his debut with his new partner Rahmat Hidayat at the Korea Masters next week.

The Men's Doubles Coach Aryono confirmed the information in an official statement sent by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

"They will go to the Korea Masters tournament this weekend and continue to the Japan Masters in Kumamoto," Aryono said in the statement.

Korea Masters, the BWF Super 300 level championship will take place in Gwangju, Korea, from 7 to 12 November 2023. Meanwhile, the Japan Masters with Super 500 BWF levels will be held from 14 to 19 November.

Aryono said that Kevin/Rahmat's preparations ahead of their debut so far had been quite good after previously two weeks of not being able to train together.

"While at the Cipayung National Training Center, Kevin trained with coach Thomas Indratjaya. After being able to train together, he returned with Rahmat," he said.

Rahmat is currently playing in the Indonesia Challenge and Indonesia Masters tournaments in Surabaya with his partner, Muhammad Rayhan Nur Fadillah.

Previously, Rahmat was paired with Pramudya Kusumawardana due to injury to Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan.

Together with Pramudya, Rahmat recorded two titles at the Indonesia International Challenge 2022 and Indonesia Masters 2022 Super 100.

Meanwhile, Kevin was previously paired with Marcus Fernaldi Gideon. Both were then separated because Marcus underwent post-height recovery.

Following Kevin's announcement in pairs with Rahmat on June 28, Gideon was juxtaposed with Muhammad Rayhan Nur Fadillah. However, Gideon/Rayhan are still preparing to appear in the Indian tournament in December.

According to the draw on the BWF website, in the first round of the Korea Masters, Kevin/Rahmat will face the Malaysian pair, Lwi Sheng Hao/Jimmy Wong.