Ubed Wins in the First Round of Malaysia Masters 2026

Indonesian men’s singles badminton player Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah, known as Ubed, advanced to the second round of the Malaysia Masters 2026 after defeating the eighth seed from India, Lakshya Sen, at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 20 May. Ubed won in straight games, 21-17, 21-11. The result was surprising given Sen’s seeding and Ubed’s form coming into the tie. Although he faced pre-match nerves, Ubed controlled the match with very calm play. ‘I didn’t expect the result actually because from the start when I saw the draw it looked quite tough to have to face Lakshya Sen. I was a bit nervous, especially considering my results beforehand,’ Ubed said after the match. The key to the victory lay in the mental maturity honed from evaluating his performance at the previous tournament. Learning from setbacks in Thailand, Ubed proved more adept at managing psychological pressure on the court. The readiness not to be easily intimidated by big-name opponents was the differentiating factor that allowed him to play freely across both games. ‘From the start my mindset was that I must not be the first to fear; I know this match is not easy, but I have prepared myself,’ he added. This impressive progress provides valuable momentum as Ubed eyes the next phase of the Super 500 event, with no boastfulness about his early victory but instead a full focus on the 16‑round challenge to come. ‘After this I have to refocus, step-by-step, hoping to play even better,’ he said. (E-4) Indonesia’s men’s singles player Jonatan Christie also secured a place in the Malaysia Masters 2026 round of 16 after defeating Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen. Ubed had previously eliminated the home favourite Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in the 32‑round in Bangkok on Wednesday, 13 May. Facing top seed Li Shi Feng of China, the rising star from Indonesia had to acknowledge the superiority of his opponent in a tight three-game battle. The Indonesian team also enjoyed overall success at the Thailand Masters 2026, with Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah, or Ubed, rising to the podium after beating fellow countryman Alwi Farhan, the second seed, in the semifinal. Ubed’s remarkable run continued to the final in the Thailand Masters 2026.