Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah was playing at badminton's World Championships just last October of 2025. He couldn't quite nail down the Junior singles title, but the 19-year-old stepped up on the biggest stage to help Indonesia defeat China in the Men's Team event of Asian Games, nicking the final rubber in a sensational 3-2 win where Indonesia bounced back from 0-2 down, with the help of youngsters.
Jonatan Christie lost to Shi Yuqi. 0-1.
Then Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang defeated Fajar Alfian and Muh Shohibul Fikri, 20-22, 21-19, 21-14. 0-2 down.
But not out.
Indonesia's scouting system that had picked the last two World Juniors contenders picked the baton. Alwi Farhan downed Li Shifeng 23-21, 15-21, 21-16. And then young Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin, dubbed LeoNiel, messed with the already confounded heads of He Jiting and Liu Yi, winning 23-21, 21-10. The scratch pair had been going for the same shuttle since the India semis.
Then came the Cristiano Ronaldo fan, Ubaidillah, nick - Ubed. Playing the stubborn Weng Hong Yang, China's trusted No 3 MS, Ubed scored a stunning 23-21, 21-13 victory over the fritzy opponent to win a historic 6th Asian Games team gold for Indonesia. China are on 7.
There's a reason Indonesia are gigantic in team events, always punching above the weight, never afraid of China and playing with a never-say-die attitude that gets passed down like a zealous DNA badminton gene.
Ubaidillah had spoken to The Indian Express last year, talking about what drove him to seeking excellence. "It's my late grandfather. He loved badminton. And enjoyed it so much I always wanted to do well to make him happy. But he passed away before I got international wins," he recalled.
The Asian Games have a special place for Indonesians. Ubed had watched Jojo Christie win the Asiad gold in 2018 Jajarta as a kid. "Jojo and (Antony) Ginting are huge role models. We all want to be like Ginting, and want to show we can be world beaters too. It's not just about his speed which was best in the world, but I look up to him as a person, like you Indians look up to Kidambi (Srikanth) and HS (Prannoy)," he explained.
"For pattern and tempo, it's Lin Dan," Ubed would say. "After Ginting, I also idolize Alwi who plays with such confidence," he would say of the emerging superstar with wild overhead deceptive powers. "He gives me confidence."
Indonesia and Istora suburbs broke out into celebrations as Ubed secured the win.
Last October he had spoken of improvements needed. "I wanna control my mind so that I don't get too overconfident. Because as a youngster, we can lose balance and ger carried away," he explained.
A former-youngster he might be, but Ubed stepped up right when needed to hand China a loss for the ages. "I was already training at the best club when my grandfather passed away. But I want to prove I too have that special Indonesian technique, that fire to win. So I keep thinking of him and improving."
Ubed would play football and listen to music to switch off from badminton. The footwork was very Indonesia, very clinical. The smashes whistled as China were sent into a morose lament.
-Shivani Naik
