Rachel/Febi Show Sportsmanship as They Reach BWF Worlds Quarterfinals

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s women’s doubles pair Rachel Allessya Rose/Febi Setianingrum advanced to the 2026 BWF World Championships quarterfinals in New Delhi, but their immediate reaction was concern for their opponents.

The duo progressed after Japan’s second seeds Yuki Fukushima/Mayu Matsumoto retired in the round of 16 on Thursday. Rachel/Febi had taken the first game 21‑9 and were trailing 6‑11 in the second when the Japanese pair decided not to continue.

“This is not the kind of win we wanted. We don’t know exactly what happened, but if it’s an injury, we hope it’s not serious and wish Yuki and Mayu the best,” Rachel said in a PBSI statement, as quoted by Antara.

Before the match ended, the 12th‑seeded Indonesians had been working to apply adjustments from their previous encounter with Fukushima/Matsumoto. “We tried to improve several aspects from our last meeting and put them into play today,” Rachel explained.

The result sends Rachel/Febi into their first‑ever World Championships quarterfinal, where they will face China’s Li Yijing/Luo Xumin, who defeated Taiwan’s Ya Ching Hsu/Yu‑Hsuan Sung 21‑13, 21‑15.

Febi noted that the shortened match gave them valuable recovery time ahead of Friday’s clash. “We have more time to rest today. Against Li/Luo tomorrow, we must fight hard and bring out our best game,” she said.

Their breakthrough marks not only a milestone for Indonesian badminton but also a moment defined by empathy and sportsmanship on the world stage. ***