Fajar/Fikri and Ben/Sean Praise Each Other Ahead of All England 2026

Jakarta — Indonesian men’s doubles pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Rikri and home pair Ben Lane and Sean Vendy, who will compete at All England 2026, have traded praise following two days of joint training at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes, England.

The joint training session was part of the Indonesian team’s acclimatisation programme ahead of the Super 1000 tournament taking place at Utilita Arena, Birmingham, from 3–8 March.

“They started very well. They’ve probably been together for around six months and are now ranked in the world top four. They are both excellent players,” said Ben in an official statement from PP PBSI received in Jakarta on Friday, 27 February 2026.

He also highlighted their respective experience of winning the All England title with previous partners.

“Fajar and Rikri have won All England with their previous partners, so they have considerable experience. I am confident they will achieve good results in the coming years,” he said.

Ben and Sean participated in two days of training sessions with the Indonesian men’s doubles pair under coaches Antonius Budi Ariantho and Chafidz Yusuf. For the English pair, the variety of training opponents provided a distinct advantage.

“We always try to train with players from other countries when possible. It can become too repetitive facing the same opponents every day. So ahead of a tournament, it is very beneficial to train with different pairs,” said Ben.

He also opened the possibility of conducting joint training in Indonesia in the future, for instance ahead of the Super 1000 Indonesia Open 2026.

Echoing Ben’s sentiments, Sean Vendy said he enjoyed the atmosphere of training alongside the Red and White team.

“The energy provided by the Indonesian players is excellent and enjoyable. Training with a new pair provides different experiences, and hopefully they also gain something positive from us,” said Sean.