Flooring Guide by Cinvex – The Indonesian men’s doubles pair, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, had to settle for a runner-up finish at the 2026 Singapore Open. Despite the disappointment, the duo is immediately shifting their focus toward the upcoming Indonesia Open 2026.
Fajar and Fikri missed out on the title after falling to the formidable Indian pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Sunday (May 31, 2026). The PBSI Cipayung national training center representatives were on the receiving end of a comeback, losing the match with a final score of 21-18, 17-21, 16-21.
“First of all, we want to express our gratitude for all the support we have received. We remain grateful despite not winning the title. We gave our maximum effort, but we must acknowledge that our opponents played exceptionally well today,” Fajar stated following the match.
Final Results of the 2026 Singapore Open: Fajar/Fikri Finish as Runners-Up After Defeat to Rankireddy/Shetty
Fajar and Fikri admitted that Rankireddy and Shetty proved to be a difficult challenge. They noted that the Indian pair entered the court with high confidence, particularly after their impressive victory over Seo Seung Jae and Kim Won Ho in the semifinals.
“They were extremely confident and possessed a lethal attack. Several times, we were forced to lift the shuttle, which they immediately capitalized on. They performed very well throughout this tournament, including their outstanding performance against Kim/Seo yesterday. Congratulations to Rankireddy and Shetty,” Fajar added.
Despite the setback, the Indonesian pair is determined not to dwell on the loss. They are already preparing for the next major event on the calendar, the Indonesia Open 2026, which is scheduled to take place at Istora Senayan from June 2 to June 7, 2026.
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With their sights set on a comeback, Fajar and Fikri are eager to perform at their best in front of their home crowd. “After this, we hope to maintain consistency throughout the year. We have many targets for this season, and the closest one is the Indonesia Open next week. We want to deliver our best performance there in front of our home supporters at Istora Senayan. We hope to go all out,” Fajar explained.
This runner-up achievement at the Singapore Open 2026 has unfortunately fueled perceptions of the pair being “runner-up specialists.” Statistically, this marks their fifth second-place finish in their last six final appearances.
Previously, Fajar and Fikri finished as runners-up at the 2025 Korea Open, Denmark Open, French Open, and Australia Open. Their only title victory during this period remains the China Open, which they secured in July 2025.
Consequently, the pair is using the Singapore Open result as a valuable learning experience to refine their game. They are actively seeking ways to shed the “runner-up specialist” label as they prepare for the Indonesia Open.
“We are trying to learn from this. Beyond hard training, we need to sharpen our mental game for high-pressure situations. We must solve this problem. We have reached five finals but always end up as runners-up. We will consult with our coaches and support team. Hopefully, we can secure a win in another opportunity,” Fajar said.
Fikri echoed these sentiments, adding, “We must maintain our mindset, mental state, and focus to perform well at the Indonesia Open. Our physical recovery will also be a key priority.”
Summary
Indonesian men’s doubles pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri finished as runners-up at the 2026 Singapore Open after losing to India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty with a score of 21-18, 17-21, 16-21. Despite the defeat, the duo expressed gratitude for the experience and acknowledged the high quality of their opponents’ performance. This result marks their fifth runner-up finish in six recent final appearances, prompting the pair to focus on improving their mental game and consistency.
Looking ahead, Fajar and Fikri have shifted their focus to the upcoming Indonesia Open 2026, scheduled to be held at Istora Senayan from June 2 to June 7. They are working closely with their coaching team to address their performance challenges and aim to deliver a stronger showing in front of their home crowd. The pair remains committed to refining their training and physical recovery to break their current streak and secure future titles.