Indonesia Cruises Past Azerbaijan in World Junior Team Championships Opener

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Adapting swiftly to challenging arena conditions, Indonesia’s junior badminton squad launched its pursuit of the Suhandinata Cup on Monday, October 5, 2026, cruising to a commanding 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan in their Group C2 opener at the Cairo International Stadium, Egypt.

Competing under the innovative 55-point relay format -- where each discipline contributes 11-point segments per game -- the national team overpowered their opponents in straight games with scores of 55-25 and 55-11.

Team Manager Eskar Denatara acknowledged that the opening fixture presented initial hurdles, particularly as players adjusted to swirling air currents and lighting at the venue.

“The first match is never easy. In the opening game, some players were still adapting to the conditions at the Cairo stadium, including wind factors and lighting,” Eskar noted in a statement released by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), as quoted by Antara.

The squad quickly found its rhythm in the first game. Mixed doubles pair Moses Andar Simanjuntak and Reya Azzahra Yulianti established an early 11-5 lead over Ulvi Huseynov and Leyla Jamalzade.

Women's doubles duo Aurelia Syakira Putri and Yasintha Ristyna Putri extended the margin to 22-11, before women's singles player Mayla Cahya Afilian Pratiwi widened the gap to 33-16.

Men's doubles pair Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono and Anju Siahaan pushed the score to 44-17, allowing singles player Radithya Bayu Wardhana to seal the first game at 55-25.

Momentum surged further in the second game. Muhammad Luthfi Habibi and Dian Ramadhani Mukti engineered a flawless start, conceding zero points to build an 11-0 advantage.

Women's doubles pair Selsi Josika and Halifia Usni Pratiwi advanced the score to 22-1, followed by women's singles player Jolin Angelia at 33-5. Men's doubles pair Joven Farandi and Joseph Marcellino Kyta pushed it to 44-8, before singles player Fathurachman secured the 55-11 triumph.

Eskar credited vocal support from Indonesian supporters inside the arena for helping athletes shake off early tension and elevate their performance in the second half. “I think this is a pretty good start for our team campaign this time. Hopefully, tomorrow we can perform even better,” Eskar said.

Placed in Group C2 alongside Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka following a pre-tournament redraw, the Indonesian team is set to continue its group-stage campaign on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Eskar emphasized that immediate recovery and sharpened preparation remain top priorities for the players.

“Learning from day one, the athletes must be even more prepared tomorrow. Their warm-ups must be more solid, and they must step onto the court fully ready to execute strategies and maintain focus, because with this 11-point relay format, anything is possible,” Eskar concluded.

The 11‑point relay format is a team‑based cumulative scoring system where each mini‑match adds to the total, making badminton more dynamic and giving underdog teams a fighting chance. ***