Against World Top Players in Germany

MUELHEIM, WEDNESDAY — Competing in the BWF World Tour tournament provides an opportunity for young Indonesian badminton players to participate in high-level competition. Currently, they are gaining that experience through a series of tournaments in Europe.

The German Open tournament at the Super 300 level, held at the Westenergie Sporthalle, Muelheim, Germany, from February 25 to March 2, serves as an opening event for a "warm-up" before the All England. In addition to the German Open, there will be the Orleans Masters in France in the following tournament, followed by the All England in Birmingham, England, from March 11 to 16.

Although not many elite athletes participated in the German Open, the tournament, which has been held since 1955, featured several big names, such as Viktor Axelsen, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in men's singles. The world’s fourth-ranked athlete was the top seed.

Another Olympic gold medalist, Chen Qing Chen, is also competing in Germany, although she will not be participating in the All England. Chen, who won the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal alongside Jia Yi Fan, has a responsibility to serve as a mentor to her 20-year-old partner, Wang Ting Ge.

Indonesia did not send many athletes to Germany, only seven representatives in the men's and women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles categories. Among them, only Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja are using the German Open and Orleans Masters as part of their preparation for the All England.

Most Indonesian athletes competing in the All England will head directly to Birmingham without participating in warm-up tournaments. However, Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti will follow their teammates to compete in Orleans. Thus, the German Open and Orleans Masters serve as platforms for gaining experience and world ranking points for most of the "Red and White" athletes.

Alwi Farhan, for instance, has the opportunity to face Axelsen for the first time. The 19-year-old Indonesian athlete will compete against the Danish player on Thursday evening (27/2/2025) Indonesian time, in the second round after defeating Wang Po Wei with a score of 21-15, 21-16 in the first round on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Axelsen was forced to play three games by the world’s 47th-ranked Japanese athlete, Riku Hatano, with scores of 20-22, 21-16, 21-9.

For Alwi, who has been competing since the qualification phase in his debut at the German Open, Axelsen is the first top-ten-ranked athlete in the world he has faced. The 2023 junior world champion has only recently gained experience competing against top-20-ranked athletes, such as Koki Watanabe, Li Chun Yi, and Ng Ka Long Angus. These moments occurred during the transition phase from competing in the junior category to a higher level.

Mixed doubles, Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu, also got a chance to face a world top 20 pair that happened in the first round. Jafar/Felisha even beat them, Jesper Toft/Amelie Magelund (Denmark), 21-10, 21-18.

In Wednesday's match, Felisha performed well in the front court, although she had to work hard to anticipate Toft's tactics of directing many cross shots. Jafar, as the executor of the attack, was also able to trick Toft/Magelund through variations of shots between smashes and cross drop shots.

"We tried to pressure the opponent first. Attack more and not let them develop. We also did not lift the ball much because their attacks were quite difficult," said Jafar who will face Indian players, Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuhesh, in the second round.

Jafar/Felisha are the youngest mixed doubles in the main national training center. With the current pair formation, they are the number two mixed doubles in Indonesia based on their position in the world ranking.

The athletes, aged 22 and 19 respectively, are ranked 43rd. They are below two pairs who have changed partners, namely Dejan Ferdinansyah/Gloria (10), Rehan/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati (26), and Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtytas Mentari (16) who will play together again after being separated in early 2025. Rinov played with Lisa at the India Open, as well as the Indonesia and Thailand Masters, while Pitha duets with Verrell Yustin Mulia at the Indonesia and Thailand Masters.

In addition to Jafar/Felisha and Alwi, other Indonesian players who will appear in the second round are Rehan/Gloria. After defeating compatriots, Adnan Maulana/Indah Cahya Sari Jamil, Rehan/Gloria will face fourth seeds, Mads Vestergaard/Christine Busch (Denmark).

"Meeting your own friends is never easy, especially since I, Kak Gloria, Adnan, and Indah have practiced together. So, we already know each other's strengths and weaknesses," said Rehan.

In the women's doubles, Meilysa Trias Puspitasari/Rachel Alessya Rose will also face Danish players Amalie Cecilie Kudsk/Signe Schulz. Meilysa/Rachel, who are seeded seventh, passed the first round on Tuesday in a tough match. They beat Nicole Gonzales Chan/Chih Chun Lin (Taiwan) 18-21, 21-11, 22-20.