Indonesian men's doubles badminton player Muhammad Rian Ardianto has urged his partner Rahmat Hidayat to play with a relaxed attitude in his debut at the 2026 All England Open.
Rian said the world's oldest badminton tournament was Rahmat's first experience, so a pressure-free approach was crucial to his optimal performance.
"The message for Rahmat, as this is his first All England tournament, is that he has nothing to lose . Nothing is impossible, even though we're not the favorites here," Rian said in an official statement from the Indonesian Badminton Association.
Rian/Rahmat started their All England Open campaign with a convincing victory over Taiwanese pair Liu Kuang Heng/Yang Po Han with a score of 21-10, 21-16 in the round of 32 at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham, England.
Rian said that from the start they had anticipated their opponent's playing style, which is known for its speed and powerful punches.
"Taiwanese pairs usually have excellent speed and power, so we anticipated this from the start," he said.
He also admitted that the match situation was slightly advantageous after seeing one of the opposing players, Yang Po Han, not moving freely.
"We also saw some uncomfortable movements from Yang Po Han and that was quite advantageous for us," said Rian.
