Fajar and Fikri Advance to the Round of 16

Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri advanced to the second round of the Asian Games 2026 men’s doubles bracket after defeating India’s Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R Arjun 21-14, 21-11 in a 36-minute match at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The second-seeded Indonesian pair maintained constant pressure throughout the contest to secure the straight-game victory and set up a next-round meeting against Hong Kong’s Cheung Sai Shing and Deng Chi Fai.

## Dominant Opening Round at Ichinomiya City

The Indonesian men’s doubles pair controlled the tempo from the start of the match against Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R Arjun. Fajar and Fikri claimed the first game 21-14 before pressing their advantage in the second frame. Maintaining a 10-point lead, they closed out the second game 21-11 to seal the victory in just 36 minutes. With this win, Indonesia secured representation with both of its entered men’s doubles pairs in the next phase of the tournament. Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin also earned their ticket to the round of 16 earlier in the day by defeating a pair from Macau, according to match reports.

## Next Opponents and Tournament Trajectory

Fajar and Fikri will face Hong Kong’s Cheung Sai Shing and Deng Chi Fai in the next round. Cheung and Deng advanced to this stage after defeating Macau’s Pui Chi Chon and Pui Pang Fong. During their campaign at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, India, in August 2026, Fajar Alfian noted the importance of studying opponent tendencies. “If from a technical standpoint maybe we already understood the character of the opponent a little bit,” Fajar Alfian stated in a PBSI release reported by Kompas.com, referencing prior matches and training sessions where rival players spent time at the national training camp. Fajar and Fikri also noted that they aim to treat major tournaments step-by-step without letting the pressure of prior titles at the Japan Open and China Open weigh down their execution on the court. “We want to make it for additional spirit, additional confidence,” Fajar Alfian said regarding expectations.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who did Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri defeat in the first round?
They defeated India’s Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R Arjun with a score of 21-14, 21-11.

### How long did the opening match take?
The match concluded in 36 minutes at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.

### Who is next for Fajar and Fikri in the tournament?
They face Hong Kong’s Cheung Sai Shing and Deng Chi Fai in the next round.

### Which other Indonesian pair advanced in the same draw?
Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin also secured their spot in the round of 16 by defeating a pair from Macau.

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