Will Indonesia Bring Home the Title from the 2025 Sudirman Cup?

1. What are Indonesia's chances in the Sudirman Cup?

It is not easy for the Indonesian squad to achieve their targets in the Sudirman Cup. However, Indonesia still has a chance as long as each athlete is directed to focus step by step. Competing in a team championship presents different challenges and pressures. They must also maintain focus on themselves in order to perform at their best in every match.

Experience is not the only indicator for determining which athletes will compete in team championships. Other factors should be considered, such as meeting statistics and the playing style of potential opponents. Furthermore, the most important factor is the condition of the respective athlete leading up to the match.

Indonesia brings experienced players and new faces. Jonatan Christie is the mainstay, supported by the men's doubles team of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto. Meanwhile, young players such as Alwi Farhan and Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah have the opportunity to prove themselves.

The women's sector also underwent changes, with Putri Kusuma Wardani taking over the role of Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who was absent. The women's doubles featured a new pair, Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Amalia Cahaya Prativi, while Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti and Lanny Tria Mayasari served as alternative options.

The Indonesian mixed doubles team relies on Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentari, although there are other options such as Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja. Rinov and Pitha have only recently reunited as a pair since the Asian Championship, so they need to quickly establish communication.

For Indonesia, this tournament is an opportunity to prove that they can compete at the highest level. The results will be used to evaluate the extent of the badminton regeneration program, as well as preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

2. What are the competitive conditions like in Group D?

Indonesia is in Group D alongside Denmark, India, and England. Group D is the group with the toughest competition as at least three teams, namely Indonesia, Denmark, and India, possess equal strength.

The challenges in the Sudirman Cup will be very tough from the group stage. A total of 16 teams are divided into four groups. Each team competes in a round-robin format to secure the top two positions in each group as a requirement to advance to the quarter-finals.

The three teams in Group D possess similar strengths in men's singles and doubles. India has an additional strength in women's singles with the presence of Pusarla V Sindhu. Meanwhile, Denmark has another asset in the mixed doubles category.

It is not an easy task for Indonesia to secure a position among the top two in Group D. Moreover, the achievements of Indonesian badminton players throughout 2025 have been below those of many other countries. Throughout the year 2025, Indonesia's performance in international badminton tournaments such as the BWF World Tour has been less than optimal. Only Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti/Lanny Tria Mayasari managed to win a title (Thailand Masters Super 300), while in major tournaments such as the Asian Championships, the best result was only reaching the semifinals.

The challenges become greater if one advances beyond the group stage. The quarter-final matches will be determined by a draw between the champions and the runners-up from different groups, presenting the possibility of facing strong teams such as China, South Korea, or Japan.

3. How is Indonesia preparing for the Sudirman Cup?

The Indonesian badminton team is undergoing intensive preparations ahead of the 2025 Sudirman Cup in Xiamen, China, by conducting match simulations at the Cipayung National Training Center in Jakarta on Monday (21/4/2025). This simulation is designed to create a competitive atmosphere similar to an actual tournament by dividing into two teams, namely Garuda and Rajawali. The aim is to prepare the athletes' mental state and strategies, especially for the young players who are making their debut in the Sudirman Cup.

The Rajawali team triumphed with a score of 3-2, secured by three pairs of doubles: Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja (mixed doubles), Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi (women's doubles), and Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto (men's doubles). Meanwhile, the Garuda team achieved two victories through women's singles player Putri Kusuma Wardani and men's singles player Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah. This result highlights strength in the doubles sector but also the potential of young players like Zaki and Putri.

Rehan/Gloria, who were called up to the national team for the first time, drew attention after defeating the main pair Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari in three games. This victory boosts their confidence, especially following their solid performances in European tournaments such as the German Open and the Polish Open.

In the singles sector, Putri Kusuma Wardani admitted to feeling nervous while facing Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo but managed to recover after the first game. Meanwhile, Zaki Ubaidillah demonstrated dominance by defeating Alwi Farhan in two straight games, affirming his readiness as an alternative in the men's singles category.

The simulation also revealed challenges for the team, such as the inconsistency of the women's doubles pair Siti Fadia/Lanny Tria Mayasari, who lost to Febriana/Amalia. Fajar/Rian, who won against Shohibul Fikri/Daniel Marthin, remain a mainstay in the men's doubles despite having lost the second game.