Indonesian badminton pair Rian Ardianto/Rahmat Hidayat secured their spot in the Round of 16 at the prestigious All England 2026 tournament. In a compelling encounter against Taiwan’s Liu Kuang Heng/Yang Po Han, held at the Utilita Arena on Thursday, March 5th, in the early hours WIB (Western Indonesian Time), Rahmat/Rian delivered a commanding performance to win in straight sets with scores of 21-10 and 21-16.
This marked the first time Rian Ardianto/Rahmat Hidayat had faced Liu Kuang Heng/Yang Po Han on court, a fact made even more notable by the significant disparity in their current BWF World Rankings.
At the time of the match, Liu/Yang held a considerably higher position as the World No. 20, while Rian/Rahmat, despite their formidable display, were ranked 50th globally.
Despite their higher ranking, Liu/Yang’s best achievement over the past two years had been reaching the semi-finals of the Japan Open 2025. Beyond that, the Taiwanese pair frequently exited tournaments in the Round of 32, suggesting a pattern of inconsistent performance.
From the outset of the first game, Rian/Rahmat adopted an aggressive, pressing style of play. Though the scores were leveled a few times early on, at 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6, the Indonesian duo quickly asserted control, building a solid 11-8 lead by the interval.
Following the interval, Rian/Rahmat relentlessly extended their advantage. Their momentum was undeniable, as they impressively secured eight consecutive points, surging ahead to a dominant 19-8 lead.
The Indonesian pair ultimately closed out the first game with a decisive 21-10 victory. The final point came from a powerful smash by Rahmat at the net, which proved unreturnable for their Taiwanese opponents.
Carrying their strong momentum into the second game, Rian/Rahmat began with similar effectiveness. The World No. 50 pair immediately took control, establishing a commanding 5-0 lead early on.
The formidable pair, who were also semi-finalists at this year’s Thailand Masters, continued to widen the gap, maintaining their strong performance to reach the interval with a significant 11-4 advantage.
After the break, Rahmat/Rian expertly managed to preserve their lead, consistently keeping their opponents at bay. They confidently held a comfortable 17-11 lead, inching closer to victory.
Ultimately, Rahmat/Rian sealed their well-deserved win in the second game with a score of 21-16. The match concluded triumphantly for the Indonesian duo as another precise shot from Rahmat at the net left Liu/Yang unable to make a return.
Summary
Indonesian badminton duo Rian Ardianto and