RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s badminton squad returned from the 2026 European Tour without a championship trophy, yet their performances signaled growing competitiveness against the sport’s elite.

The tour, which featured the German Open, All England, Swiss Open, and Orleans Masters, offered young shuttlers valuable exposure to top‑ranked opponents and highlighted the narrowing gap between Indonesian players and the world’s best.

Head of Development and Performance at the Indonesian Badminton Association (PP PBSI), Eng Hian, said the tour underscored progress in both technical execution and mental resilience. “The players’ competitiveness was evident, especially when facing the world’s top players,” he said in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 25, 2026.

Indonesia’s brightest moments came at the Swiss Open, where Alwi Farhan and Putri Kusuma Wardani reached the finals before settling for runner‑up finishes. Alwi fell to Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 18‑21, 12‑21, while Putri lost to Thailand’s Supanida Katethong 11‑21, 15‑21.

Other strong runs included men’s doubles pair Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin, who reached the semifinals at the prestigious All England, and Leo Rolly Carnando with Bagas Maulana, who advanced to the semifinals at the Orleans Masters.

Women’s doubles duo Rachel Allessya Rose and Febi Setianingrum also reached the semifinals in Orleans, reinforcing Indonesia’s depth across multiple categories.

Eng Hian acknowledged that consistency in crucial moments remains the key difference between podium finishes and near misses. He stressed that experience in major tournaments is vital for building the mental and technical maturity needed to convert opportunities into titles. “The results from this European tour will serve as a foundation for the next steps, with improvements to be implemented gradually and systematically,” he said. ***