Sabar and Reza Make Indonesia Proud at All England Badminton Tournament
In a thrilling match at the BWF Super 1000 All England 2025 tournament, Indonesia’s men’s doubles team, Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, showcased their exceptional skills and determination. The duo defeated the Chinese pair of Huang Di and Liu Yang with a remarkable score of 21-6, 21-18 at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
For Sabar and Reza, advancing to the quarterfinals of the prestigious All England tournament was a dream come true. Sabar expressed his excitement, stating, “It feels incredible to reach the quarterfinals in our first All England appearance. We used to watch this oldest badminton tournament on TV, and now we finally have the chance to play here. Hopefully, we can stay focused and progress step by step.”
Looking ahead to the quarterfinal match, Sabar and Reza are set to face the Chinese Taipei pair of Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Han, who secured their spot by defeating the Danish duo of Rasmus Kjar and Federick Sogaard with a score of 21-15, 21-16 in the round of 16. Despite not having faced their upcoming opponents before, Sabar emphasized the need to anticipate their powerful and fast-paced gameplay.
Sabar and Reza’s Aggressive Performance
During the round of 16, Sabar and Reza displayed an aggressive style of play that proved to be effective. Reza revealed that they intentionally put pressure on their opponents from the start, which allowed them to take a significant lead in the first game. Currently ranked eighth in the BWF men’s doubles rankings, the Indonesian duo maintained their dominance in the second game, although they faced a brief setback when their opponents caught up.
In response to the challenging situation, Sabar and Reza remained focused and composed, ensuring they could finish the match strongly. Reflecting on their performance, Reza shared, “We deliberately applied pressure from the beginning, as instructed by our coach to maintain an attacking strategy throughout the game.” Despite briefly losing their lead in the second game, the duo managed to regain their composure and return to their best form. They faced some psychological warfare from their opponents to disrupt their concentration, but they remained unfazed.
Indonesian Contingent’s Mixed Results
While Sabar and Reza celebrated their victory and advancement to the quarterfinals, other Indonesian representatives faced varying outcomes in the round of 16. The mixed doubles pair of Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja also secured a spot in the quarterfinals, contributing to Indonesia’s success in the tournament.
However, several Indonesian players were eliminated in the round of 16, including the women’s doubles team of Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi, women’s singles player Putri Kusuma Wardani, men’s singles contender Jonatan Christie, and the women’s doubles pair of Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia S. Ramadhanti. Despite these setbacks, the Indonesian contingent continued to showcase their talent and competitive spirit on the international badminton stage.
As Sabar and Reza prepare to face their next opponents in the quarterfinals, Indonesian badminton fans eagerly anticipate their continued success and remarkable performances at the All England tournament. The duo’s journey is not only a testament to their skill and dedication but also a source of inspiration for aspiring young badminton players across Indonesia and beyond.
