Indonesia's Bagas/Apriyani Begin New Mixed Doubles Partnership

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian shuttlers Bagas Maulana and Apriyani Rahayu are set to embark on their journey as a new mixed doubles pair, following a reshuffle by coach Nova Widianto aimed at strengthening the sector and building depth.

The partnership was formed in September 2026, with Apriyani previously paired with Dejan Ferdinansyah and Bagas with Indah Cahya Sari Jamil.

Speaking at the national training center in Cipayung, Jakarta, Bagas said he and Apriyani were ready to embrace the coach’s decision without pressure, focusing instead on adaptation, chemistry, and proving their worth.

“We’re now playing mixed doubles, so we want to maximize this opportunity. We don’t want to waste the trust the coach has placed in us,” Bagas said on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

Both players bring strong credentials from their previous disciplines. Bagas won the All England 2022 and Korea Open 2024, while Apriyani captured Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020.

Although they must rebuild their game from scratch, Bagas views the switch as a challenge rather than a setback. “We’re already mature players, but we have to think from the beginning and start from zero. It’s a new challenge for us,” he said.

Apriyani echoed the sentiment, calling the move an opportunity to grow. “This is a change and a new challenge for me. I feel I’m still capable and there’s still much to explore,” she noted.

The pair admitted they need to refine communication and playing patterns, as Bagas’s style differs from Dejan’s. After five days of training, they have begun building trust and off‑court chemistry, which Apriyani believes is crucial for success.

They also recognize the uphill task ahead, starting without ranking points in mixed doubles. “We have to work extra hard because we don’t have points yet. Good results will be our foundation for next year,” Apriyani said.

For now, the duo will take each match step by step, with Nova refraining from setting specific ranking targets. “The coach hasn’t mentioned any special targets yet, as he’s still observing everyone. We’ll maximize three matches and focus one at a time to see our progress,” Apriyani explained.

Bagas and Apriyani will make their debut as a mixed doubles pair at the Indonesia International Challenge 2026, scheduled for September 22–27 at GOR Sudirman in Surabaya, East Java. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)