Indonesia Tops Group C2 with Strong BWF World Junior 2026 Start

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia strengthened its position at the 2026 BWF World Junior Team Championships after securing another dominant 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka, giving the junior squad valuable momentum and confidence ahead of the knockout stage in Cairo, Egypt.

Indonesia defeated Sri Lanka 55-38, 55-35 in Group C2 on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, with both teams competing through five matches in each set.

In the first set, Indonesia opened with mixed doubles pair Moses Andar Simanjuntak/Reya Azzahra Yulianti, who defeated Keneth Aruggoda/Isuri Attanayake 11-3. Women's doubles pair Selsi Josika/Yasintha Ristyna Putri then extended Indonesia's lead to 22-11 after beating Isuri Attanayake/Sithumi De Silva.

Jolin Angelia increased Indonesia's advantage to 33-21 after defeating Nethmi Ratnayake in the women's singles.

Fardhan Rainanda Joe made it 44-32 against Keneth Aruggoda in the men's singles before Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono/Anju Siahaan completed the first set with a 55-38 victory over Sanuda Ariyasinghe/Thisath Rupathunga.

Indonesia continued its strong performance in the second set. Muhammad Luthfi Habibi/Atresia Naufa Candani opened the set with an 11-5 win over Senuth Sethmitha Perera/Nethmi Ratnayake. Halifia Usni Pratiwi/Aurelia Syakira Putri extended Indonesia's lead to 22-14 after beating Isuri Attanayake/Sithumi De Silva.

Mayla Cahya Afilian Pratiwi increased the score to 33-23 against Nethmi Ratnayake. Radithya Bayu Wardhana made it 44-28 after defeating Keneth Aruggoda, before Joseph Marcellino Kyta/Faizal Pangestu secured Indonesia's second-set victory at 55-35 against Sanuda Ariyasinghe/Thisath Rupathunga.

Luthfi said Sri Lanka's players showed rapid development despite coming from a country that is not traditionally regarded as a major badminton power.

“Their players have developed quite rapidly. One possible factor maybe is the presence of Indonesian coaches working there,” Luthfi said on Tuesday, October 6, as quoted on the official website of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI).

He said Indonesia would need stronger focus, mentality and tactical variety in the next round. "If we play in the next round, our focus and mentality have to be improved. We need to have many strategies because in these short-point situations, you need to have many strategies," he added.

Atresia, who was playing her first match of the tournament, said she was still adapting to the court conditions. She said she and Luthfi, who are both left-handed, had similar ideas about placing the shuttle into open areas.

"Because we are both left-handed, we have the same thoughts on some of the shuttle placements into open areas," Atresia said, adding that the Sri Lankan pair played without pressure, while Indonesia focused on gradually building its advantage.

Indonesia's victory gives the junior team further momentum in Group C2 while allowing its players and coaches to assess their performance and adapt before facing stronger opponents in the next stage. ***