The Suhandinata Cup Changes Hands to China

GUWAHATI, SATURDAY — The Indonesian junior badminton team struggled to keep up with China in the final of the Suhandinata Cup 2025 championship. This defeat serves as a reflection for the competition in the individual category.

Indonesia lost to China with a score of 0-2 in the final held at the National Centre of Excellence, Guwahati, India, on Saturday (11/10/2025). This result is the opposite of the 2024 Suhandinata Cup final when Indonesia defeated China, the host, in the championship match.

A year ago, Indonesia won with a score of 110-103 using a relay scoring system to reach 110 points. The match consisted of five events held over two rounds. Thus, each athlete had a target of achieving 11 points and its multiples.

The relay score calculation format was also used in the competition in Guwahati from October 6 to 11. The difference this time is that the competition takes place in three sets (each consisting of five events) to reach a target of 45 points in each set. Therefore, each athlete must win nine points in each match. The winning team is the one that wins two sets.

The strong performance in defeating India 2-0 in the semifinals was not evident in the Indonesian squad during the final. Indonesia lost 30-45 in the first set, and then 44-45 in the second set.

Out of a total of ten matches, only two were won by Indonesian athletes, specifically in the women's doubles and men's doubles in the second set. Riska Anggraini/Rinjani Kwinara Nastine opened up hopes for the "Merah Putih" team to extend the match to three sets.

Competing in the first match, they won 9-5 against Cao Zi Han/Chen Fan Shu Tian. Riska/Rinjani played at a faster pace, especially at the net, compared to the first set when they lost 8-9.

With a relay scoring system, a lead of four points should be an advantage for Indonesia to be maintained by other players in the subsequent matches. Rinjani, who competed in the mixed doubles event, performed well again when paired with Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya in the second match. He skillfully intercepted the opponent's shots at the front of the court.

However, Ikhsan could not keep up with his partner, repeatedly making unforced errors. In fact, the competition, which only contested nine points, proceeded quickly with a duration (generally) of less than ten minutes.

A four-point lead in the women's doubles was briefly extended to six points when Ikhsan/Rinjani led 13-7; however, the opponents quickly closed the gap. China, relying on Chen Jun Ting/Cao Zi Han, even turned the tables from being behind 11-14 to win 18-14. The defeat of Ikhsan/Rinjani (5-13) caused Indonesia to fall behind by a margin of four points.

The difference persisted until the fourth match. In women's singles, Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan, and in men's singles, Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah, drew with their opponents, each with a score of 9-9.

Thus, with a deficit of 32-36, Indonesia placed its hopes on the men's doubles team, Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono/Muhammad Rizki Mubarrok, to replace the pair of Raihan/Alexius Ongkytama Subagio, who lost in the first set.

The cheers from the Indonesian camp resounded loudly again when Raihan/Rizki leveled the competition at a score of 41-41. They even took the lead at positions 42-41, 43-42, and at match point 44-43.

However, the match ended when China added two consecutive points due to errors from Raihan/Rizki. Indonesia's opportunity, at the very least, to extend their breath was lost along with the celebrations held by the Chinese squad on the field.

Indonesian players lamented the defeat and took it as a lesson to face the next challenge at the same venue. After competing in the mixed team event, they will participate in the individual category taking place from October 13 to 19.

Zaki, who became a semifinalist in the men's singles in 2024, carries great hopes of winning the championship title for Indonesia, similar to what Alwi Farhan achieved in 2023. Moreover, the event in Guwahati is the last junior world championship for Zaki, who will be over 19 years old when the same event is held in 2026. Meanwhile, the junior world championship can only be participated in by athletes aged 19 and under.

A similar experience was faced by Rinjani, who had a final opportunity in Guwahati. In Nanchang 2024, Rinjani became a semifinalist in the women's doubles while partnering with Isyana Syahira Meida.

Individual competition will be more challenging as it will be conducted under a scoring system generally based on the best of three games, with 21 points. The true abilities of each player will also be tested.

Riska Anggraini/Rinjani Kwinara Nastine – Cao Zi Han/Chen Fan Shu Tian 8-9

Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine – Chen Jun Ting/Cao Zi Han 15-18 (Ikhsan/Rinjani lost 7-9)

Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan – Si Ya Li Yu 20-27 (Thalita lost 5-9)

Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah - Liu Yang Ming Yu  27-36 (Zaki lost 7-9)

Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono/Alexius Ongkytama Subagio – Chen Jun Ting/Liu Jun Rong 30-45 (Raihan/Alexius lost 3-9)

Riska Anggraini/Rinjani Kwinara Nastine – Cao Zi Han/Chen Fan Shu Tian 9-5

Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine – Chen Jun Ting/Cao Zi Han 14-18 (Ikhsan/Lintang lost 5-13)

Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan – Si Ya Li Yu 23-27 (Thalita-Si score 9-9)

Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah - Liu Yang Ming Yu 32-36 (Zaki-Liu score 9-9)

Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono/ Muhammad Rizki Mubarrok – Chen Jun Ting/ Liu Jun Rong 44-45 (Raihan/Rizki won 12-9)

Indonesia in the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships

2025 : final

2024 : champion

2023 : final

2022 : semifinal

2019 : champion

2018 : semifinal

2017 : fifth place

2016 : fifth place

2015 : final

2014 : final

2013 : final

2012 : fourth place

2011 : seventh place

2010 : fourth place

2009 : fifth place

2008 : seventh place

2007 : sixth place

2006 : fourth place

2004 : third place

2002 : third place

2000 : third place