KUDUS – The final day of the 2026 PB Djarum General Auditions in Kudus, Sunday (Sept 13), marked a critical stage for remaining participants. While some competed through to the final rounds, others were still under observation by the PB Djarum Talent Scouting Team.
A total of 1,601 participants took part in the 2026 PB Djarum General Auditions in Kudus. Of those, 36 athletes earned a Super Tiket. 18 athletes secured their spots through the tournament bracket, while 18 others were selected based on direct assessment by the Talent Scouting Team.
Matches served as a key component of the selection process. The team looked beyond final scores to evaluate technical skills, playing style, competitive spirit, physical posture, and the ability to handle pressure during matches.
For the boys' division, Final Day matches began in the Round of 16, progressing to the quarterfinals and semifinals. Matches concluded at the semifinal stage, as the four players from each age group—U-11, KU 11, and KU 12—who reached that level were automatically awarded a Super Tiket. No further matches were played to determine a champion.
The girls' division started from the quarterfinals, proceeding through the semifinals to the finals. However, the final matches were not played. The two players in each age group who advanced to the final were awarded a Super Tiket via the tournament path.
Head of the PB Djarum General Auditions Talent Scouting Team, Sigit Budiarto, explained that Final Day is a crucial phase for identifying which participants earn a Super Tiket.
Under this format, the tournament path produced 18 Super Tiket recipients, consisting of 12 boys and six girls. Outside of the tournament bracket, the Talent Scouting Team continued to monitor all participants throughout the audition process to award additional Super Tikets based on their observations.
Participants traveled from various regions across Indonesia. While the majority were from Java, athletes from outside the island also attended the auditions in Kudus.
According to Sigit, match results are not the sole criterion. Participant potential is also a major factor when the team determines additional Super Tiket recipients.
The intense competition requires the talent scouting team to evaluate participants from multiple perspectives. PB Djarum coach and Talent Scouting Team member, Andreas Aditya Warman, noted that technical skill and competitive spirit become more apparent on Final Day than in the earlier stages.
While technical proficiency remains a core component of the match, participants are also judged by their drive to persevere when facing difficult situations.
According to Andreas, the technical proficiency of young participants is relatively balanced. Consequently, grit, work ethic, and the drive to win serve as the deciding factors.
How participants handle errors is also under scrutiny. Emotional regulation is a key metric, as athletes must remain focused while under pressure.
The scouting team observes how participants react when they make mistakes. For selectors, demeanor on the court provides insight into an athlete's mental readiness for competition.
2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medalist and scouting team member Liliyana Natsir emphasizes technique as a primary assessment criterion for participants under 13.
However, the evaluation extends beyond technique. Liliyana notes that footwork, fighting spirit, and physical posture are also key considerations, as athletes at that age are still in a developmental phase.
Liliyana observed that the caliber of participants in Kudus shows improvement compared to those in previous auditions in Pekanbaru and Makassar. She attributed this to the fact that athletes in Java generally have more match experience, which can differentiate them from peers in other regions.
Nonetheless, this disparity in match opportunities does not preclude success for candidates outside of Java. The multi-faceted evaluation process ensures that participants from all regions have an equal opportunity to showcase their potential.
Scouting team member and PB Djarum U-15 girls' singles coach Nimas Rani Wijayanti also highlighted a strong pool of prospective athletes, particularly in the girls' U-11 category.
Rani explained that while the audition initially seeks singles players, coaching staff will monitor athlete development to determine their long-term suitability for either singles or doubles play.
This process has been personally experienced by Muhammad Ramdani Mubarok. The Bandung native, representing PB Victory Bandung, has participated in the PB Djarum General Audition four times.
In previous auditions, Ramdani reached the quarantine stage but did not progress further. This year, he returned with the experience gained from his prior attempts.
This year's journey concluded with a successful reach to the finals and the acquisition of a Super Ticket through the tournament bracket. Ramdani noted that the challenge throughout the audition was maintaining physical fitness while refining his technique, as every opponent presented unique skills that had to be overcome.
He prepared through daily training sessions, occasionally doubling his workload.
Ramdani's father, Asep Nugraha, has supported his son’s preparations, ensuring he maintained discipline and worked hard throughout the audition process.
This year's preparation coincided with other commitments; before heading to Kudus, Ramdani competed in the National Science Olympiad in Jakarta. Asep arrived in Kudus on Monday, while Ramdani began competing on Wednesday (9/9).
The tournament schedule, leading up to the final day, saw Ramdani compete over five days. Asep noted that the competition was highly skilled.
For the family, the audition is about more than just the final result; Ramdani has gained valuable experience competing against participants from various regions.
Ramdani himself gained insights into competitive mindset, learning how to remain resilient and push through difficult matches against tough opponents.
A total of 36 athletes have been awarded Super Tickets. The following is the full list categorized by qualification path and age division.
Tournament Path Super Tickets
U-11 Girls
11-Year-Old Girls
12-Year-Old Girls
U-11 Boys
11-Year-Old Boys
12-Year-Old Boys
Scouting Team Selection Super Tickets
U-11 Girls
11-Year-Old Girls
12-Year-Old Girls
U-11 Boys
11-Year-Old Boys
12-Year-Old Boys
For the 36 Super Ticket recipients, the Final Day is not the end of the journey. They will undergo a four-week quarantine period at the PB Djarum dormitory.
During quarantine, participants will face two elimination phases designed to further assess the athletes' skills and mental fortitude.
Those who successfully complete the quarantine will receive the Djarum Badminton Scholarship from the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation and join PB Djarum as mentored athletes.
Meanwhile, participants who did not receive a Super Ticket can use their audition experience for future evaluation.
Andreas advises young athletes to remain diligent in their training. While technical skills are essential, he emphasized that competitive spirit and a strong work ethic are equally critical.
Sigit stressed that preparations should begin well before audition registration opens, noting that both physical and mental readiness require disciplined training.
From a parental perspective, Asep believes young athletes require comprehensive preparation, spanning training, mental fortitude, discipline, health, nutrition, and stamina.
For Ramdani, the advice for future applicants is simple: train consistently, maintain physical fitness, and cultivate a competitive mindset.
The final day of the 2026 PB Djarum General Auditions in Kudus resulted in 36 Super Ticket recipients across various regions and age groups. Eighteen athletes earned their spots through tournament play, while another 18 were selected by the scouting team.
These 36 athletes will now advance to a quarantine phase, where they must undergo two additional elimination rounds before potentially joining the PB Djarum development program.
For other participants, the experience in Kudus served as a valuable opportunity to assess their individual strengths and weaknesses. The matches provided insight into competing against opponents from across the country while highlighting specific areas for improvement.
Ramdani’s journey proves that a single setback is not the end. After four audition attempts, he successfully secured a Super Ticket via the tournament route, earning another opportunity to continue his development.
While the final day has concluded, the journey for these young athletes continues. Some are moving on to the quarantine phase, while others return to training to prepare for future competitions and opportunities. (DN/mainkekudus)
