Indonesia Sends 26 Rising Shuttlers to Asian Junior Championships in Japan

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has officially sent a 26-player junior badminton squad to compete at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships (BAJC) 2026 in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan, as the country looks to strengthen its position among Asia’s leading badminton nations.

The championships will feature team events from June 26-30, followed by individual competitions from July 1-5. The Indonesian contingent was formally unveiled during a send-off ceremony at the national training center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 17.

“These are our best junior athletes, ready to represent Indonesia,” Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) Secretary General Ricky Soebagdja said, as quoted by Antara.

He urged the players to translate their preparation into strong performances on court and demonstrate determination throughout the tournament.

Team manager Eskar Denatara said the squad, which combines national training center athletes and club players, is physically and technically prepared after completing a 30-day training camp.

The focus in the final week before departure will be maintaining the athletes’ mental readiness, supported by PBSI’s sports psychology team.

According to Eskar, the players have adapted well to the demands of intensive training and the responsibility of representing Indonesia on the international stage.

This year, PBSI has also fully involved its talent identification team in the BAJC program, from player selection to tournament monitoring.

Former Indonesian badminton stars Hendrawan and Bambang Suprianto are among those tasked with evaluating the level of competition across Asia and assessing Indonesia’s standing against regional rivals.

The Indonesian team is scheduled to depart for Japan on June 24. ***