KUDUS – The City of Kretek buzzed with the sound of rapid footsteps, the squeak of shoes on the green carpet courts, and the roar of spectators packing every corner of the arena. An intense competitive atmosphere was palpable from the opening day of the Polytron Kudus Indonesia Masters 2026.
This prestigious international badminton tournament, a BWF World Tour Super 100 level event, is officially being held from October 20 to 25, 2026, at Djarum Arena 2, Kaliputu, Kudus. The grand tournament has become a major draw for domestic badminton enthusiasts, featuring a total of 322 athletes from 16 countries competing for titles across five official categories: Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. The competition offers a total prize pool of USD 120,000, or approximately IDR 1.9 billion.
Countries from around the globe are participating in the event, with host nation Indonesia welcoming delegations from Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Turkey, Hong Kong China, England, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Venezuela, and Australia.
The first day of competition delivered intense duels that tested the mental and physical resilience of both promising young athletes and established world-class players striving for the international elite stage.
Hosting an international tournament of this magnitude, the BWF World Tour Super 100, is a testament to the hard work and vision of the organizing committee. Badminton legend and Organizing Committee Chair, representing PBSI, Yuni Kartika, stated that the opening day proceeded smoothly and according to the established schedule.
"Everything is running well according to our plan," Yuni Kartika remarked during the first day of matches on Tuesday (October 20, 2026).
Yuni explained that Indonesia is fielding a full-strength squad, featuring a broad mix of players from both the national training center and various clubs across the country. This strategic move is designed to provide as many young Indonesian players as possible the opportunity to experience high-level international competition. The Super 100 level is considered a crucial gateway for athletes aiming to advance to the BWF World Tour Super 300 level, where the competition is significantly more intense.
"We have many Indonesian players, both from the national training center and clubs. We want to give them the opportunity to compete at the Super 100 level, which acts as a stepping stone to the 300 series—a significant jump. Advancing to the 300 level is not easy, which is why they must earn points here," Yuni explained.
Furthermore, Yuni highlighted a positive international trend, noting that powerhouses like Thailand, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei have begun entering under-19 players in adult categories. Hosting this tournament in Indonesia is expected to provide similar exposure for young local athletes, helping them acclimate to the pressures of competing against senior professionals.
"We see many young players from Thailand, Korea, and Chinese Taipei who are under 19 but are already competing in adult categories. By hosting this tournament in Indonesia, we hope not only seniors but also younger players can compete here. Experience is gained faster by facing seniors than by playing only against peers, which helps them avoid being overwhelmed when they eventually transition to the senior level," she added.
Regarding on-court challenges, Yuni emphasized that the presence of badminton players from various elite nations makes the tournament environment highly competitive. Kudus is considered to hold a distinct appeal for athletes from Southeast Asia and the wider Asian region.
"The competition is challenging because the participants represent strong nations in large numbers. Kudus seems to have a unique appeal for Asian and Southeast Asian players. We want to see them cause upsets on home soil; defeating seeded players helps boost their confidence, self-belief, and rankings," said Yuni.
Regarding infrastructure and services, organizers have ensured compliance with high international standards by providing all mandatory facilities required for official BWF tournaments.
"We are required to provide several specific spaces, including a player lounge, a room for referees and line judges, medical facilities, doping control rooms, a media center, as well as dedicated practice and warm-up courts. Everything must be in place," Yuni asserted.
The main objective of holding the event in Kudus is not merely to achieve athletic success but also to promote the city as a badminton epicenter capable of hosting world-class events.
"First, we want to demonstrate that Kudus is capable of hosting an international BWF-level tournament. Second, we want to showcase Kudus to the public and especially to the BWF. This city is a hub for badminton; we want to show that we are capable of both developing athletes and managing high-level events," Yuni concluded.
The opening day on the main stage featured a series of gripping matches involving host nation representatives. In the men’s doubles, PBSI national training center pair Wahyu Agung Prasetyo (trained by PB Exist) and Pulung Ramadan (an athlete from PB Djarum) secured a vital victory against fellow Indonesians Revand Harianto and Akmal Nurrahman of PB Jaya Raya Jakarta. With a solid performance, Wahyu and Pulung closed the match with a convincing 21-16, 21-10 victory.
Despite the straight-game win, Wahyu admitted the pair faced early challenges due to unforced errors that gifted easy points to their opponents.
“Thank God we finished the match without any injuries. At the start, we had some trouble, wasting points on mistakes that shouldn’t have happened. But after that, we both managed to overcome it. We found our tempo and the game plan we wanted,” said Wahyu.
Looking ahead to the next round, Pulung emphasized that their primary focus is maintaining self-confidence and sticking to their practiced strategy.
“The goal is, of course, to win, but we don’t want to look too far ahead. We want to focus on each match as it comes,” Pulung stated.
In an equally tense contest, the women’s singles featured a grueling 74-minute duel between Semarang-born talent Oei Louisa Jovanka Sandi Winarto of the Exist Badminton Club, a registered PBSI national athlete, and Sarah Daisy Theresia Christina Rambitan. In an exhausting three-game battle, Jovanka ultimately emerged victorious with a dramatic score of 22-20, 22-24, and 25-23.
Jovanka reflected on the intensity of the clash against her compatriot, whom she was facing in an official tournament for the first time.
"This was my first time facing Sarah, so I was still testing her style of play. The first set was closely contested with multiple deuces. I managed to win the opening set 22-20. In the second, I led 20-17 but couldn't close it out. I then trailed 18-20 in the third set, but I managed to turn it around by staying focused and maintaining my mindset," Jovanka said.
Jovanka added that her opponent's aggressive style of play briefly forced her into a high-paced rally pattern.
"She played very aggressively, constantly looking to attack. Sometimes I got drawn into her pattern of playing at high speed and forgot to control the pace or lift the shuttlecock," she concluded.
The BWF Super 100 tournament serves as a key draw for international players seeking valuable world ranking points. Hong Kong men's singles player Lam Ka To faced a stern test in the opening round against Taiwan's Yi Liu. After a grueling three-game battle, Lam Ka To secured a 21-15, 8-21, 21-18 victory.
For Lam Ka To, competing in Kudus has been a highly positive experience despite this being his first visit to the city.
“This is not my first time in Indonesia, but it is my first visit to this city, Kudus,” said Lam Ka To.
Regarding his preparation for the tournament, Lam said he prefers to avoid high expectations, focusing instead on enjoying each rally on the court.
“We have been improving our skill level, techniques, and training for this tournament. I did not set any specific goals from the beginning; I just want to enjoy every match. I believe focusing too much on winning or losing creates unnecessary pressure. I am just taking it as it comes and will do my best,” he explained.
Assessing the facilities at Djarum Arena 2, the Hong Kong, China badminton player expressed his satisfaction with the standard of the venue and the courts provided by the organizers.
“It is excellent. The venue, the facilities, and the courts are all quite impressive,” Lam Ka To praised.
The excitement on the opening day of the Polytron Kudus Indonesia Masters 2026 was not limited to the court; it was felt throughout the stands. Muhammad Fahrul Umam, a dedicated badminton fan from Cendono village in Kudus Regency, was enthusiastic about attending the event after work to see world-class players in action.
Fahrul said he was drawn to Djarum Arena 2 because it marks the first time this BWF Super 100 international tournament has been hosted in his hometown.
“The athletes are the highlight. There is a diverse field from various countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, China, and others. This is also the first time a Super 100 event has been held in Kudus. The local community has welcomed it with great enthusiasm,” said Fahrul.
As a dedicated badminton fan, Fahrul noted he thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere on the opening day, despite the competition being in its early stages.
“The atmosphere today was quite good; spectators were very enthusiastic. Many children are attending, and there are many international athletes here, which is a great learning opportunity. Watching live allows you to really feel the energy of the court. On television, you only see one court, but here you can view all of them live,” he added.
The opening day of the Polytron Kudus Indonesia Masters 2026 was a success, delivering high-quality sports action both on the court and through excellent off-court infrastructure. Under the BWF Super 100 format, the qualifying rounds and early stages are set to intensify over the coming days as top-seeded players and national stars begin their campaigns.
With the full support of local fans, world-class facilities at Djarum Arena 2, and the high competitive spirit displayed by athletes from 16 countries, the tournament promises continued excitement leading up to the final on October 25, 2026. Badminton enthusiasts across the nation are now awaiting the emergence of new champions to represent the country on the international stage. (JMY/mainkekudus)
