RI Shuttlers Faza and Rachel Advance to Junior Grand Prix 2026 Quarterfinals

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Promising Indonesian mixed doubles shuttlers Faza Iwadh Kurnia Ramdhan and Rachel Machalul Cahya Ayu advanced to the quarterfinals of the Pembangunan Jaya Raya Junior International Grand Prix 2026 after a commanding straight-games victory over Malaysia’s Khairul Azlan Khashah and Min Yi Teoh.

Competing on home turf at the PB Jaya Raya center in Bintaro, South Jakarta, on Friday, July 10, 2026, the Indonesian duo delivered a clinical performance to dispatch their Malaysian opponents 21-11, 21-17 in a relatively swift encounter.

“Thank God, the match went smoothly and according to the plan I had prepared beforehand. There were some non-technical disruptions, but we managed to overcome them,” Faza said in an official statement released on Friday, as quoted by Antara.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, Rachel admitted the Malaysian pair posed tactical challenges, particularly with their aggressive, high-tempo offensive returns. Indonesia’s solid defensive structure, however, allowed her to neutralize the threat and launch effective counter-attacks.

“The opponent’s advantage earlier was that they had fast, hard shots that were quite difficult to handle,” Rachel added.

The tournament itself is part of the official Badminton World Federation (BWF) junior calendar under the Junior International Grand Prix category. With USD 25,000 in prize money and ranking points at stake, it is regarded as one of Asia’s most prestigious junior events, attracting top young players from across the region.

The competition also marks a successful reunion for the Indonesian pair. Faza revealed that while they had played together since 2024, the coaching staff briefly separated them in recent months before reuniting them for this Grand Prix. The hiatus, however, did little to affect their competitive synergy.

“We have been paired since 2024 but were briefly separated, and this time we have just been paired up again. Our target right now is simply to play to our maximum potential,” Faza remarked.

With their chemistry restored, Faza and Rachel move into the final eight as strong contenders to keep the mixed doubles trophy on home soil. ***