Still Homework After Asian Champions

QINGDAO, SUNDAY — For the first time, Indonesia became the best team in the Asian Mixed Team Badminton Championship. However, as soon as the "Red and White" squad stepped down from the podium, every component in the national badminton training center must tackle their homework, especially to catch up with the regeneration gap from China.

Indonesia emerged as the champion after defeating the host China, 3-1, in the final in Qingdao, Sunday (16/2/2025). The three victories were obtained from the first, second, and fourth matches through Rinov Rivaldy/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, Alwi Farhan, and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Daniel Marthin. Meanwhile, Putri Kusuma Wardani lost for the first time out of four matches.

This title completes the ticket to compete in the Sudirman Cup Championship in Xiamen, China, from April 27 to May 4, which was obtained when Indonesia advanced to the semifinals. The Asian Championship, as one of the continental championships for Sudirman Cup qualification, qualifies the top four teams to Xiamen. In total, 16 teams from various continents, including China as the host and defending champion, will compete in the Sudirman Cup.

On the journey to the final in the Asian Championship, Indonesia defeated Hong Kong and Malaysia in the group stage, then overcame Taiwan and Thailand in the quarterfinals and semifinals. On the last day of the tournament, Rinov and his teammates ended China's chances of winning three consecutive titles after 2019 and 2023. The 2021 championship was not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Because it is held in the first year after the Paris 2024 Olympics, the 12 teams competing in Qingdao are strengthened by athletes who are mostly backup athletes or young athletes. In the doubles event, there are many new pairs, both among young players and duos of senior and young players.

Indonesia relies on the points achieved in the men's singles and women's singles led by Alwi Farhan (19 years old) and Putri Kusuma Wardani (22). Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Daniel Marthin, who are always fielded when Indonesia competes, are one of the hopes in men's doubles to soon catch up to Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto.

The women's doubles fielded Rachel Alessya Rose/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari in one of the group stage matches, although they still included Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, who is already considered a senior in this sector.

Fadia is also a mainstay of the mixed doubles, a number that was forced to bring seniors because there was no better material. Like the women's doubles, this sector is in the search for the best doubles, one of which is by forming the duets Dejan Ferdinansyah/Fadia and Rinov/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati since early 2025.

However, when playing against China, Indonesia fielded Rinov/Fadia to replace Dejan/Fadia who played in the previous three matches. Mixed doubles coach Rionny Mainaky explained that Dejan could not play because he felt pain in his right knee that interfered with his movement. In the last two appearances, Dejan did wear a bandage on his right knee while competing.

For Rinov and Fadia, the experience of pairing up in a team event, even during the junior period, was quite helpful when playing against China. "We have often practiced together. When playing for the club in the national championship, we also paired up. So, I really trust Kak Rinov," said Fadia after winning over Gao Jia Xuan/Wu Meng Ying with a score of 21-11, 21-13.

Indonesia led 2-0 through Alwi's victory over Hu Zhe An, 21-15, 21-13. After that, China held on by winning the third game through Xu Wen Jing.

The 17-year-old defeated Putri in their first meeting 21-12, 21-13. Putri played well throughout the tournament and defeated experienced Thai player Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the semifinals.

The final finally lasted only until the fourth game because Indonesia won three games first after Fikri/Daniel defeated Chen Xu Jun/Huang Di 21-15, 21-9. As soon as Fikri/Daniel got the last point, the Indonesian team ran onto the court to celebrate their victory.

In addition to winning as a team, the Red and White squad brought other positive notes from Qingdao, such as the good performance of the singles players. Alwi was unbeaten in four matches, while Putri won three times before losing to Xu. Komang also repaid the trust with a win when Indonesia played against Malaysia.

From the doubles sector, Fadia always gives her best effort, including when she has to play in the mixed doubles and women's doubles. The Dejan/Fadia duo also has great potential to be able to enter the top level competition immediately.

Another note, in addition to improving the technical factors of each athlete, there is homework related to regeneration. The match against China illustrates that the country has more reserve players with better quality than Indonesia.

Mixed doubles, Gao/Wu, are players aged 19 and 21. In the Indonesian national training, Gao is in the same class as Felisha Albertha Nathaniel Pasaribu and they have faced each other in the 2023 World Junior Championships. Felisha, who is paired with Adrian Pratama, won over Gao who played with Chen Fan Shu Tian in the third round.

Gao/Wu, who have been paired since early 2025, are China's No. 11 mixed doubles pair in the world rankings. Before appearing in Qingdao, they played in the Indonesia Masters, reaching the second round and were semifinalists in the Thailand Masters.

Rinov also expressed appreciation for Gao/Wu. "The opponent is a pretty good young pair. They are the future of China's mixed doubles, but, in the match earlier, we managed to put pressure on them," said Rinov.

Gao/Wu are among the young players who have strengthened the Chinese team, although they carry Olympic gold medalists Chen Yu Fei in women's singles and Chen Qing Chen (women's doubles). However, Chen, who played when China played Japan in the semifinals, is paired with 20-year-old Wang Ting Ge.

Gao, Wu and Wang are part of China's young athletes at the Asian Championships. They are strengthened by nine players aged 21 and under from a total of 16 players, while Indonesia has five players in the same age range.

China does not have a mission to compete for the Sudirman Cup ticket like other teams because it will be the host. However, reaching the Asian Championship final with young players is a good result.

Hu and Wu are potential players in the singles, although Alwi still has the advantage in the head-to-head statistics with Hu, at 4-1. Their meeting in Qingdao was their first at the senior level after competing four times in the junior category in 2023.

One of Alwi's memorable wins was when he defeated Hu in the men's singles final at the 2023 World Junior Championships. A year later, when Alwi was no longer able to compete in junior tournaments, Hu became the world junior champion with Xu in the women's singles.

At 18, Hu is China's number 10 men's singles player, while Xu is ranked 20th in women's singles. In Indonesia, Alwi, who is a year older than Hu, is the fourth men's singles player behind Jonatan Christie, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, and Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo.

That means China has more players among their best players with young players being fielded in the Asian Championship in Qingdao. In contrast, the achievement gap between Jonatan and Anthony and the players below them is too far.

In the men's doubles, China only brought pairs number six and eight. Meanwhile, Fikri/Daniel and Rahmat Hidayat/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan are only one level below Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto.