Indonesia Eyes Strong Start Against South Korea at Asian Junior Championships

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian junior badminton team is bracing for a stern test at the 2026 Asian Junior Championships, with captain Muhammad Rizki Mubarrok stressing that the relay point format leaves no room for a slow start.

The mixed team competition, staged in Kumamoto, Japan, requires players to be sharp from the first rally, as each game consists of five matches played to 11 points apiece--adding up to 55 points per game. The team that wins two games secures victory.

“These are short, fast games, so we cannot play casually. Once we step on court, we must be ready right away,” said Mubarrok, known as Barrok, in a statement released by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) on Thursday, June 25, as quoted by Antara.

Indonesia opens its Group D campaign against South Korea at the Yatsushiro City General Gymnasium on Friday morning, June 26, 07.00 Jakarta time, before facing Macau on Saturday and Malaysia on Sunday.

Preparations have included conditioning and court trials, though Barrok noted players must adapt quickly to lighting and wind conditions that affect shuttle flight.

Team manager Eskar Denatara added that the squad’s fitness is improving after arriving in Japan midweek, estimating athletes are at “around 90 percent” readiness.

He acknowledged the challenge of facing South Korea, a nation with a strong badminton tradition, but urged Indonesia’s players to deliver their best from the outset. The mixed team event runs June 26–30, followed by the individual competition from July 1–5. ***