JAKARTA – Indonesian badmintonist Zaki “Ubed” Ubaidillah humiliated host country representative Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul with a score of 21-19, 20-22, 21-19 in the final to win the Thailand Masters 2026 on Sunday.
This moment, as reported by Antara, was the first time that Ubed beat Panitchaphon after always losing in the two previous meetings, at the Toyota International Challenge 2024 and at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2025.
“It’s incredibly happy, it’s a combination of feelings and I can’t deny being the champion,” Ubed was quoted as saying in an official PBSI statement.
Ubed started the first game not too well, but he woke up at the end of the phase having already been 10-11 at the interval. Panitchaphon was able to take four consecutive points to bring him closer to victory with a score of 19-16.
However, Ubed didn’t want to give up. Playing in front of the opponent’s fans, the 18th badminton player bounced back by snatching five consecutive points to seal the victory 21-19.
In the second set, Panitchaphon started the match with violence. He took a 5-0 lead, followed by 11-7 at the break. This didn’t bother him, Ubed didn’t let Panitchaphon win easily.
He scored four straight points to turn things around at 18-17. Unfortunately, at the end of the game, the badminton player born in Sampang, Madura, was trapped. Panitchaphon has already restored the balance, 20-22.
The close match took place in the deciding match. Like the first two matches, the competition for the second men’s singles match was intense after the interval.
Ubed continued to rush until the score was 17-18. He tied the score at 18-18 and then was more solid. Not wanting to repeat his mistakes in game two, Ubed won the important points in the final phase of game three. He finished the game 21-19, finishing the lagaberdurasisatu hour and 18 minutes with a victory.
“For the opponents’ supporters, it’s quite common today, but it made me even more happy. Because the home opponent certainly doesn’t want to lose either,” Ubed said about the atmosphere of playing in front of the opponent’s fans.
It is Ubedpada’s first title of 2026 after previously reaching only the last 16 of the Indonesia Masters, where he was stopped by Singapore representative Loh Kean Yew, 19-21, 10-21.
In his journey to the Thailand Masters title, Ubed defeated five men from different countries, one of whom defeated his compatriot Alwi Farhan, winner of the Indonesia Masters 2026, in the semi-final with a score of 21-18, 21-14.
“I reserve this victory for the parents, the family, PBSI, PBDjarum and everyone. I hoped I could do better, and then defeat the Super 500 title,” said Ubed, who is the 44th male player in the world.
Ubed’s victory made Indonesia four Thailand Masters 2026 titles after previously winning the women’s doubles (Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti), the doubles even (Leo Rolly Carnando/Bagas Maulana) and the doubles even (Adnan Maulana/Indah Cahya Sari Jamil).
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