Rehan/Gloria Advance, Sabar/Reza Show Solid Form at China Open 2026

Indonesian badminton pairs Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja and Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani have secured their spots in the round of 16 at the prestigious China Open 2026.

Rehan/Gloria faced a challenging first-round match against Scotland's Alexander Dunn/Julie Macpherson. They battled for over an hour, ultimately winning 22-20, 23-25, 21-14. Rehan admitted they struggled to adapt to the court's wind conditions, which differed from their practice. "Alhamdulillah, thank God we could win today, could overcome the difficulties on the court," he said. "Yes, the first game was not good, we couldn't adapt well to the court conditions where the wind was very noticeable."

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Alhamdulillah, thank God we could win today, could overcome the difficulties on the court. Yes, the first game was not good, we couldn't adapt well to the court conditions where the wind was very noticeable.

Gloria echoed the sentiment, noting her own difficulty finding her rhythm after a month-long break from tournaments. "Today felt very much like after more than a month without playing, the feel wasn't quite there, so throughout the match I tried to build and bring back the feel of the game. Thank God I could overcome the pressure," she stated. The pair adjusted their strategy in the deciding third game, regaining confidence and focus to secure the victory.

Meanwhile, Sabar/Reza delivered a more convincing performance against Malaysia's newly formed pair, Aaron Chia/Aaron Tai. They won in straight games, 21-17, 21-19. This solid win provides valuable momentum for the Indonesian duo as they continue their campaign in the BWF World Tour Super 1000 event, one of the sport's most esteemed tournaments.

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Today felt very much like after more than a month without playing, the feel wasn't quite there, so throughout the match I tried to build and bring back the feel of the game. Thank God I could overcome the pressure.