After Gregoria, Leo Also Withdraws From Sudirman Cup

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The cancellation of the participation of two athletes has marked the Indonesian team that will compete in the mixed team badminton championship, the Sudirman Cup. Leo Rolly Carnando has become the second athlete to withdraw from the competition due to injury.

The certainty of Leo's cancellation to depart for Xiamen, China, was conveyed by the Head of Development and Achievement Division of PP PBSI, Eng Hian, in Jakarta, Wednesday (23/4/2025). Eng Hian stated that Leo suffered a ligament injury to his left knee while competing in the Asian Championship in Ningbo, China, from April 8 to 13. The injury occurred in the third game when Leo/Bagas Maulana faced the home players, Chen Bo Yang/Liu Yi, ultimately losing 21-13, 18-21, 12-21.

Returning from Ningbo, Leo underwent a series of examinations. He canceled his participation in the Sudirman Cup match simulation at the Cipayung badminton training center in Jakarta on Monday (21/4/2025). The position of Leo/Bagas in the simulation among the Sudirman Cup team athletes was replaced by Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Daniel Marthin, who faced Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto.

"The latest results indicate that Leo requires more time for recovery, so it has been decided that he will not participate in the 2025 Sudirman Cup. We have also decided not to replace Leo with another player because the men's doubles already have two pairs plus one, namely Fajar/Rian and Fikri/Daniel, as well as Bagas," said Eng Hian.

Among the five sectors, Indonesia's men's doubles have a balanced strength among three pairs. As the most senior athletes, Fajar/Rian have more experience facing competition at the world team level. During the simulation, they also defeated Fikri/Daniel.

Initially, Leo/Bagas became the mainstay due to their fairly good performance this year. In addition to reaching the semifinals of the Asian Championship, they became finalists at the All England. Meanwhile, Fikri/Daniel reached the finals of the Thailand Masters and the Swiss Open, as well as the quarterfinals of the Asian Championship.

Along with other pairs training outside the national training center, namely Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, these three Indonesian men's doubles are ranked among the top ten in the world. Another aspect required in team championships is flexibility in changing partners, which can be accomplished by Fajar/Rian, Fikri/Daniel, and Bagas.

One day before announcing Leo's cancellation, PBSI also confirmed the condition of Gregoria Mariska Tunjung. The top women's singles player from Indonesia will not strengthen Indonesia in the Sudirman Cup due to vertigo. Gregoria's cancellation was confirmed after receiving advice from a doctor on Monday night.

On the same day, PBSI communicated with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), requesting permission to replace Gregoria with Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo. This was because Indonesia had only registered two women's singles players on the last day of athlete name registration, April 14, namely Gregoria and Putri Kusuma Wardani. BWF granted PBSI's request.

The Indonesian team will depart for China on Thursday. Jonatan Christie, who has been appointed as the team captain, and his teammates will face England in their first match on Sunday. Following that, they will compete against India, and then Denmark.