RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian women’s doubles duo Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari walked away from the opening round of the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) 2026 with more than just a defeat; they gained crucial experience against the world’s top-ranked pair.

Competing at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center in China on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Ana/Trias fell to China’s Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in straight games, 11-21, 19-21. Trias admitted they struggled in the first game, rushing their play and failing to match the speed and power of their opponents.

“In the first game we were too hasty, while the opponents had clear advantages in power and speed,” she said in a statement released by the Indonesian BAdminton Association (PBSI) after the match, as quoted by Antara.

Ana added that although they had prepared a game plan, execution on court was lacking. “We had prepared beforehand, but because we rushed, the shots didn’t land as intended,” she explained.

In the second game, the Indonesian pair attempted to adjust by varying the tempo rather than following China’s fast-paced rhythm. “We tried not to stick to their pattern, sometimes playing fast, sometimes slowing it down,” Trias said.

While the adjustment brought them closer, it was not enough to overturn the result.

Both players emphasized that the match offered valuable lessons, particularly the need for greater patience in rallies and sharper anticipation of opponents’ returns. “Going forward, we need to be more patient and avoid rushing. We must read the opponent’s returns more carefully,” Ana said.

Despite their exit, Indonesia still has two women’s doubles pairs in contention: Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, who will face Singapore’s Tay Andrea Jacqui/Teo Eng Ker, and Rachel Allessya Rose/Febi Setianingrum, who are set to meet Taiwan’s Chang Ching Hui/Yang Ching Tun.

For Ana and Trias, the defeat may sting, but the experience of facing the world’s best is seen as a steppingstone toward improving their consistency and competitiveness at the elite level. ***