Jonatan Christie Becomes First Indonesian World No. 1 Since Taufik

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s men’s singles badminton star Jonatan Christie has officially risen to world No. 1 for the first time in his career, marking a historic milestone in the latest BWF rankings released Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

The 28‑year‑old joins legendary shuttler Taufik Hidayat as the only Indonesian men’s singles players to reach the top spot.

Jonatan climbed two places from third after collecting 87,631 points, surpassing France’s Christo Popov (87,002) and Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn (86,915), Antara reported.

His rise came despite an early exit at the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi, where he fell in the round of 16 to Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in three games (21‑11, 13‑21, 18‑21).

“Of course, I’m very disappointed because I came here with high hopes and good focus. But in the end, I have to accept this result,” Jonatan said after the match, as on the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) official website.

The reshuffle at the top was influenced by rivals’ performances. Former world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China dropped five places to sixth after an early exit, while Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen climbed to fourth with 86,580 points following his bronze medal finish. Denmark’s Anders Antonsen sits fifth with 85,405 points.

Jonatan’s achievement adds to a decorated career that already includes the 2018 Asian Games gold medal, the 2024 All England title, and his role in Indonesia’s Thomas Cup victory in 2020. ***

Top 10 Men’s Singles Rankings (as of Aug. 25, 2026)

1. Jonatan Christie (Indonesia) – 87,631
2. Christo Popov (France) – 87,002
3. Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand) – 86,915
4. Chou Tien Chen (Taiwan) – 86,580
5. Anders Antonsen (Denmark) – 85,405
6. Shi Yu Qi (China) – 84,705
7. Alex Lanier (France) – 78,715
8. Kodai Naraoka (Japan) – 76,530
9. Victor Lai (Canada) – 76,465
10. Li Shi Feng (China) – 71,683.