Indonesia's Amri/Nita Struggle with Composure in Japan Open First Round Exit

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s mixed doubles pair Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah bowed out of the Japan Open 2026 after failing to maintain composure in decisive moments against sixth‑seeded French duo Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue.

The match in Tokyo on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, ended in straight games, 18–21, 21–23, despite the Indonesians pushing their opponents to the brink.

Amri admitted their downfall came from losing calm at critical points. “The difficulty today was within us, staying composed in the final points," he said in a statement released by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), as quoted by Antara.

"The match was actually balanced, and we even led several times. But in the end, we lost the tactical battle in those decisive moments,” he added.

The Indonesians had opportunities to extend the contest in the second game, but unforced errors proved costly. Nita added that the French pair’s deliberate slowing of the tempo disrupted their rhythm.

“Our own mistakes became a boomerang. We lost composure in the final points. They delayed play, asked for breaks, changed shuttles unnecessarily; it disturbed us. This is a lesson to maintain emotions, be more patient, and stay focused in such situations,” she explained.

Still, Nita noted she had anticipated Gicquel/Delrue’s service variations, including the flick serve often used to pressure Indonesia’s defense. “I was prepared for their flick serve because they often use it, as seen in their previous matches,” she concluded

The defeat highlights the importance of mental resilience in badminton, where small lapses in focus can determine the outcome of tightly contested matches. ***