KUDUS – The final of the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 at GOR Djarum Arena 1 Kaliputu, Kudus, on Saturday (Oct. 10, 2026), featured athletes who navigated six days of intense competition. In the deciding matches, the ability to maintain concentration, manage tempo, and anticipate opponents served as the final test before determining the champions.
The tournament, held from Oct. 5–10, 2026, drew 753 athletes from Kudus, Pati, Jepara, Rembang, and Blora, an increase from the approximately 649 participants in the previous event.
The conclusion of the competition offers insight into the state of badminton development within the former Pati Residency. Beyond individual athlete achievements, this year’s tournament provided an opportunity to assess player adaptation to the 3 x 15 scoring system newly implemented for the event.
For clubs, these results serve as a benchmark for structuring future training programs. For athletes who reached the final stages, the experience of performing under pressure provides a foundation for improvement in upcoming competitions.
Match results indicate that PB Champion Kudus athletes dominated several top positions across various categories. In the boys' pre-early singles division, Kenzo Leonardo Wijaya took first place, followed by Raffasya Alkhalifi Oktana in second, both representing PB Champion Kudus.
In the girls' children's singles, Glory Patricia Djawa Bele of PB Champion Kudus finished first, while her teammate Mohammad Hakim Hanafi captured the title in the boys' children's singles. PB Champion Kudus also secured victory in the girls' children's doubles through the pair of Glory Patricia Djawa Bele and Namia Queen Mutiara Sapphire.
While Kudus clubs dominated many categories, the winners' list also highlighted participation from other organizations. Callysta Nathania Hariyanto of PB E’France Kudus placed first in the girls' pre-early singles, and Mahira Hasna Kamila of Raja Badminton Club Kudus finished second in the girls' children's singles.
Cross-regency competition was also evident in the girls' children's doubles, where Fakhira Rafeyfa Labiba of PB E’France Kudus and Farras Zhafira Cahyono of PB Champions Jepara took second place. These results demonstrate a competitive landscape featuring athletes from diverse training environments.
The tournament also featured the Seneng Minton U-9 and U-11 categories. In the girls' U-9 division, Shavira Kirana Maharani of MI Negeri Kudus secured first place, while Kenzo Fellycio Jasmine of SD Masehi Kudus took the top spot in the boys' U-9 group.
The Seneng Minton category is designed to encourage participation among school-age children, while the pre-early and children's categories provide a platform for athletes to gain competitive experience as they progress through age brackets.
Farras Zhafira Cahyono of PB Champions Jepara emerged as a standout athlete, reaching the final round. She competed in two events, girls' singles and girls' children's doubles, with differing outcomes.
Her run in the singles event concluded in the round of 16. However, paired with Fakhira Rafeyfa Labiba of PB E’France, she successfully advanced to the girls' children's doubles final, finishing as the tournament runner-up.
Competing in two events required Farras to maintain her physical fitness and concentration throughout the tournament. She chose to focus on each match individually rather than dwelling on title prospects from the start.
"The focus was to play one match at a time, without overthinking other opponents. Winning or losing is a secondary matter; the priority was to perform at my best," said Farras.
Despite reaching the final, Farras acknowledged areas for improvement, noting that pre-match jitters remained a significant challenge.
"The challenge is maintaining physical conditioning and managing nerves heading into the final. Moving forward, I want to play with more composure and correct my mistakes to secure victory in the next tournament."
Reaching the final serves as a significant milestone for Farras. Having proven her ability to compete at the highest level, her focus now shifts to physical conditioning and emotional regulation to ensure greater consistency in high-pressure matches.
The results of the 2026 Bitingan Masters also provide a basis for evaluation for PB Champions Jepara. The club sent 15 athletes, securing one finalist in the girls' children's doubles category and two semifinalists in the boys' beginner's doubles category.
PB Champions Jepara coach Zaenuri Subastian emphasized that these achievements must be viewed in the context of the evolving competitiveness among clubs in the former Pati Residency region.
He noted that the skill levels among players from the five regencies have become increasingly balanced, making every match a test of advanced technical and strategic preparedness.
“The quality of competition in the Pati Residency region has become increasingly competitive and balanced. This tournament serves as an excellent platform to build the players' mental toughness and test strategies developed in training,” he said.
Based on the results, Zaenuri has identified several areas for improvement in future training sessions, particularly regarding core technical skills and competitive composure.
PB Champions Jepara also plans to increase match experience through exhibition games. This initiative is designed to help players better manage tactical shifts from opponents and perform under pressure during critical match phases.
Securing one finalist and two semifinalists provides the club with a baseline to evaluate athlete development. This assessment extends beyond those who failed to advance, encompassing all players who reached the semifinals and finals yet fell short of the title.
From the organizers' perspective, the results of the Bitingan Masters 2026 serve as a key indicator of the regional badminton landscape across five regencies. The increase in participants and inter-club competition provides insight into athletic growth in each area.
Tournament Coordinator and PBSI Kudus General Secretary, Raventus Pongoh, noted that the multi-regency format allows organizers to measure the performance of Kudus athletes against players from other districts.
“Through this multi-regency format, we can map the badminton landscape across the former Pati Residency and assess the current state of talent development. As host, Kudus can also evaluate its standing relative to other regencies,” Raventus said.
In addition to mapping competition, this year’s tournament introduced a new match format. For the first time in Kudus, the Bitingan Masters utilized the 3 x 15 scoring system, aligning with the format used in PBSI's National Circuit (Sirnas) competitions.
This change is significant as it alters how players manage a match. With a shorter target score compared to the traditional 21-point system, every point lost places greater pressure on a player's chances of winning the game.
“This is the first tournament in Kudus to implement a 15-point scoring system, mirroring the Sirnas format established by PBSI. Since all championships will adopt the 3 x 15 system next year, we are starting here. This serves as an opportunity for everyone to see how athletes adapt to the new scoring structure,” Raventus explained.
In this format, players must quickly identify and execute effective gameplay patterns. Consecutive errors could create an insurmountable scoring gap, making early-game readiness increasingly critical.
For coaches, this new system requires a strategic shift. Adjustments to tempo management, shot selection, and momentum control are essential to accommodate the potentially shorter match duration.
Experience with the 3 x 15 scoring system serves as key preparation for the Central Java Provincial Championship (Kejurprov), scheduled for November 2026. Clubs now have time to evaluate match results and fine-tune athlete training before competing at the provincial level.
Beyond tournament outcomes, the sustainability of athlete development remains a priority for PBSI Kudus. Rising participation numbers highlight strong engagement, though officials emphasize the need for continuous scouting to maintain depth across all age groups.
Raventus notes that schools serve as vital entry points for introducing badminton before children transition to club-based training.
The SenengMinton category acts as a gateway for beginners. After gaining foundational experience, athletes can advance to the Early Age category as they develop in age and ability.
"Major clubs in the former Pati Residency, particularly in Kudus Regency, have the potential to scout even more talent. Children competing in the SenengMinton category this year can move up to the Early Age level next year. School-to-club recruitment broadens the scope for athletic achievement and succession planning," Raventus concluded.
He added that the synergy between school scouting, club training, and tournament participation must be strengthened to ensure seamless transitions for athletes advancing through age divisions.
With the conclusion of the 2026 Bitingan Masters, focus now shifts to the Central Java Provincial Championship. For Farras and other finalists, their performance in Kudus serves as a benchmark for improvement. Meanwhile, for clubs and PBSI Kudus, tournament outcomes and the implementation of the new scoring system will guide evaluations ahead of the upcoming competition season. (DN/mainkekudus)