Two Indonesian men stood at center court in Tokyo, held up a red-and-white flag, and let seven years of frustration finally exhale. On Sunday, July 19, 2026, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri beat the world's No. 1 men's doubles pair  South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae  21-19, 21-17 to win the Japan Open 2026. It's Indonesia's first Japan Open title since the "Minions," Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, last won it in 2019. 

At a glance:

• Final score: 21-19, 21-17. 
• Match length: 45 minutes.
• Years since Indonesia's last Japan Open win: 7. 
• Tournament tier: BWF Super 750  Indonesia's first of 2026. 

The match was played at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, the same arena where Fajar and Fikri had already survived a brutal three-game semifinal against home favorites Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi the day before. Against Kim/Seo, the story almost went the other way. Korea's top seeds pulled ahead 11-9 in the first game, then stretched the lead to 14-11. The Indonesian pair clawed back to 16-16, held their nerve through the closing points, and shut the door 21-19. The second game followed a familiar script: Kim/Seo led 10-8, Fajar/Fikri surged to 19-16, and closed it out 21-17. 

Who Are Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri?

Fajar Alfian is a former partner of Muhammad Rian Ardianto, with whom his best Japan Open result was a semifinal appearance in 2023. Muhammad Shohibul Fikri's own career-best at this tournament came in 2024, when he reached the semifinal alongside Daniel Marthin  only to be eliminated by the very same Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae. That loss makes Sunday's win something close to payback. Seeded second at this year's tournament, the new Fajar/Fikri pairing has now beaten the Korean duo twice in five career meetings, the first coming at China Open 2025.

For Fajar specifically, the title lands at a personal high point  he recently married, and this is his first trophy since. The win also snaps a near year-long drought for the pair since their last title, at China Open 2025. 

Why Does This Japan Open Win Matter for Indonesian Badminton?
Indonesian men's doubles has been the country's most reliable badminton export for over a decade, but 2026 had been quiet  no Super 750 or higher title until this one. Beating a world No. 1 pair in straight games, on their own continent, signals the sport still has depth beyond its most famous retired names. It also resets momentum heading into the next stretch of the BWF calendar.

What's Next for Fajar/Fikri?
The celebration is short. Fajar himself noted the two pairs hadn't met since the French Open the previous year, underlining how rare and high-stakes this final was  and now attention turns to China Open 2026, a BWF Super 1000 event, the tour's highest tier. It's a significantly bigger stage, and a chance to prove Tokyo wasn't a one-off.

How Much Does It Cost to Watch Live Badminton Like This in Indonesia?
BWF Super 750 and Super 1000 events aren't held in Indonesia every year, but when tournaments like Indonesia Open or Indonesia Masters roll around, ticket prices typically range from around Rp150,000 for early-round general admission to over Rp2 million for finals-day premium seating, depending on the venue and session.