Not to be careless, Indonesia wants to be the group champion

QINGDAO, WEDNESDAY—Victory in all matches against Hong Kong ultimately became the key for Indonesia to advance from the group stage of the Asian Mixed Team Badminton Championships in Qingdao, China, after Hong Kong defeated Malaysia. Not wanting to be complacent with this status, the Indonesian squad is aiming for the group champion position to boost their confidence in the knockout phase.

With relatively balanced strength among the three teams, the competition in Group B at the event held from February 11-16 is tight. After being defeated by Indonesia with a score of 0-5 on the opening day of the championship, Hong Kong bounced back and opened up the opportunity to advance to the quarter-finals after defeating Malaysia, 3-2, on Wednesday (12/2/2025).

Based on the results over the past two days, the current standings of the three teams in Group B are Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. Indonesia will play one more match, against Malaysia, on Thursday starting at 09:30 local time or 08:30 WIB.

The final positions of the other nine teams divided into three groups will also be determined in Thursday's matches. In a match that also took place on Wednesday, India defeated Macau 5-0 in Group D. India will compete with South Korea to become the group champion.

In Group C, the competition to become group champion will occur between Thailand and Japan after both teams won 5-0 against Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, the defending champion China will face Taiwan to compete for the status of Group A champion. Both received tough resistance from Singapore.

Of the 12 participants divided into four groups, only the two best-ranked teams from each group are entitled to appear in the quarter-finals. This round, which initiates the knockout phase, will see the champions and runners-up from different groups face each other, determined through a draw.

Whatever the result of the match against Malaysia, it will not change Indonesia's status, which has already qualified for the quarter-finals. However, the match will determine the final positions of the three teams in Group B.

Indonesia can remain at the top position if it wins two out of five events. A worse defeat than that, 1-4 or 0-5, will place Indonesia in second position, below Malaysia. Meanwhile, if Indonesia wins, the second team to qualify from Group B is Hong Kong.

Even though the quarter-final ticket is already in hand, the “Red and White” squad does not want to let go of the opportunity to become group champions. The victory of each player will be meaningful because it can raise their confidence to go through a more difficult phase. Moreover, the pressure in team competition feels greater than the individual championship.

"Indonesia has entered the quarter-finals, but don't be arrogant yet. Against Malaysia, don't be careless, you have to stay focused because we are chasing victory," said mixed doubles player, Rinov Rivaldy, in Qingdao, Tuesday.

Rinov, as the captain of the Indonesian Team, also reminded his teammates to give their best. Moreover, Malaysian players will bring great motivation because they have a mandatory mission to win over Indonesia.

Based on the performance of the players in each team, Indonesia's advantage lies in the women's singles and doubles sectors. Moreover, Malaysia is not reinforced by the best women's doubles, Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan. Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti/Lanny Tria Mayasari or Rachel Alessya Rose/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari should have been able to win over Malaysia's number two women's doubles, Go Pei Kee/Teoh Mei Xing.

"Lanny/Fadia and Rachel/Trias are ready to be fielded based on today's training. On paper, the women's doubles are superior, but the situation can change on the field. Moreover, Malaysia needs a win, so we must remain vigilant," said women's doubles coach Prasetyo Restu Basuki.

In the singles, Putri Kusuma Wardani or Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi has a better track record than Letshanaa Karupathevan. Putri has two titles from the BWF World Tour Super 300 tournament, while Komang appeared in Qingdao after becoming a finalist in the Thailand Masters Super 300. Meanwhile, Karupathevan, the best women's singles in the Malaysian team, has just won an international challenge level tournament.

However, Karupathevan played well when Malaysia played Hong Kong. When his team was trailing 0-1, he leveled the score with a 21-18, 21-18 win over Saloni Samirbhai.

"If trusted, I am ready to play against Malaysia. I will play hard and must have confidence to be able to contribute points. There will definitely be tension, but the experience of participating in team tournaments has made me know how to overcome it," said Komang who played in the women's team at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, the 2024 Asian Men's and Women's Team Championships, and helped bring Indonesia to the finals of the 2024 Uber Cup Championship.

If Indonesia and Malaysia can get points from their respective favorite numbers, the victory of one team can be determined through the last match, especially if the match order is the same as when Indonesia played Hong Kong and Malaysia played Hong Kong. The match was opened by mixed doubles, followed by women's singles, men's singles, women's doubles, and men's doubles.

It is one of seven orders of play that can be applied in mixed team championships. The scenario used is determined by the tournament referee after both teams submit the names of the athletes who will compete.

Malaysia will rely on the mixed doubles as it is strengthened by the world's fourth-ranked pair, Goh Soon Huat/Lai Shevon Jemie, in addition to Hoo Pang Ron/Cheng Yu Hsin. Goh/Lai defeated Rinov/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati in the first round of the India Open in January.

Indonesia has another option to field Dejan Ferdinansyah/Fadia. However, careful calculation is needed to determine this strategy because there is a possibility that Fadia will be fielded in the women's doubles, a number that Indonesia cannot afford to miss.

If trusted, I am ready to play against Malaysia.

In men's singles, Alwi Farhan leads 3-2 over Justin Hoh, while Yohanes Saut Marcellyno shares one win from two meetings with the Malaysian number three. However, Malaysia still has men's singles number two Leong Jun Hao, who was benched against Hong Kong. Leong, 25, has more experience than Alwi and Saut in BWF World Tour tournaments, including in team events.

Based on the comparison of the strengths of the four sectors, the men's doubles could be a key number to determine the winner. The competition will be really "hot" if this number is played last and the score is 2-2 from the previous four matches.

Both teams relied on reserve players in this event because Indonesia was without Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto. Malaysia also did not bring Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izuddin and Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik.

“Red and White” could field Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Daniel Marthin or Rahmat Hidayat/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan to face Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun. The Malaysian pair performed well in early 2025 by reaching the semifinals of the Malaysia Open and winning the Indonesia Masters.

So, whoever the Indonesian pair is sent, must be prepared to face great pressure against Man/Tee. Moreover, as Fajar said after being defeated by Man/Tee in the Indonesia Masters final, the Malaysian pair ranked 12th in the world has a more varied way of playing compared to their two seniors.