The stakes couldn’t have been higher as the BWF World Tour Finals 2025 entered its second day in Hangzhou, China, on December 18. Indonesian badminton fans tuned in with hope and nerves, eager to see if their national heroes could turn the tide after a rocky opening round. The group stage was in full swing, and the tension was palpable—not just in the stadium, but across living rooms and cafes from Jakarta to Surabaya.
For Putri Kusuma Wardani, the challenge was monumental. Ranked 7th in the world, she faced Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, the world number three and a player she had never beaten in six previous encounters. The match, scheduled for the early morning session, drew the eyes of many. Could Putri finally break the streak?
The answer, unfortunately, was no, but not for lack of effort. The Indonesian shuttler started strong, taking the first game 24-22 after a fierce, neck-and-neck battle that stretched past the usual 21 points. The crowd—both in Hangzhou and online—roared as Putri clinched that opener. But Akane, known for her relentless pace and tactical brilliance, bounced back in the second game, edging Putri 21-19. The deciding rubber saw Akane pull ahead decisively, sealing it 21-13. The match lasted a grueling 1 hour and 5 minutes, a testament to both players’ grit and stamina.
With this loss, Putri’s hopes of advancing to the semifinals were extinguished. Both Akane and Korea’s An Se-young had already notched two wins in the group, making it mathematically impossible for Putri to progress. It was a tough pill to swallow for the Indonesian camp, but there was no denying the heart Putri showed on the court. As reported by multiple outlets, “Putri Kusuma Wardani lost in a rubber game to Akane Yamaguchi of Japan with scores 24-22, 19-21, and 13-21, and could no longer qualify for the semifinals because Akane and An Se-young had both won twice.”
Mixed doubles presented another big test for Indonesia. Jafar Hidayatullah and Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu, ranked 10th in the world, squared off against Malaysia’s Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, the formidable fourth seeds. The head-to-head record wasn’t kind to the Indonesians—five straight defeats—but hope springs eternal in sport, doesn’t it?
Jafar and Felisha started the match with a bang, taking the first game 21-17. It looked like the upset might be on the cards. But the Malaysians regrouped, tightening their defense and upping the tempo. The next two games slipped away from the Indonesians, 14-21 and 15-21. That defeat, their second in the group stage, meant their semifinal dreams were dashed. The math simply didn’t add up: both Chen/Toh and China’s Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping had already secured two victories each, locking up the available semifinal spots. “Jafar/Felisha lost again to Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia in a rubber game with scores of 17-21, 21-14, and 15-21,” recapped a Herald.ID report, confirming their exit.
It was a similar story for men’s doubles pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani. After an impressive win on the first day, the duo faced the world’s top-ranked pair, Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of Korea. There was optimism in the air—could Sabar/Reza pull off a shock? The opening game was a nail-biter, with the Indonesians narrowly losing 20-22. The second game saw the Koreans maintain their edge, closing it out 21-17. The match lasted just 42 minutes but was packed with intensity. Despite the defeat, all was not lost for Sabar/Reza. They still held second place in Group A and could secure a semifinal berth with a win against Chiu Hsiang-chieh and Wang Chi-lin of Chinese Taipei in their final group match on December 19.
“Sabar/Reza were second in Group A and still had a chance to advance if they won their next match on December 19, 2025,” reported Tirto.id, capturing the cautious optimism still lingering for Indonesia in the men’s doubles bracket.
Elsewhere, the Indonesian contingent was fighting to keep their campaigns alive. Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, ranked 8th in the world, were set to face India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the world number three pair, later in the day. Their previous encounter had ended in favor of the Indonesians, giving them a sliver of hope in what has been a brutally competitive group.
Singles star Jonatan Christie, world number five, was also preparing for his clash against Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, ranked third. Jonatan boasted a 7-5 head-to-head advantage, but after a straight-games loss to Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn on day one, he needed a win to keep his semifinal hopes alive.
The opening day had already set the tone for a roller-coaster week. Aside from Sabar/Reza’s lone victory, Indonesian players had stumbled against top-tier opposition. Putri Kusuma Wardani fell to An Se Young, Jonatan Christie was bested by Kunlavut Vitidsarn, and Fajar/Fikri suffered a narrow three-game defeat to Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. The group stage format left little room for error, and the pressure was obvious with every shuttle rally.
For fans, the schedule was a whirlwind—matches spread across two sessions, starting at 08:30 WIB and continuing into the evening. The atmosphere in Hangzhou was electric, with supporters waving flags and chanting encouragement, but the on-court reality was harsh. The BWF World Tour Finals is, after all, reserved for the best of the best.
Looking ahead, Indonesia’s hopes now rest primarily on the shoulders of Sabar/Reza in men’s doubles and potentially Fajar/Fikri and Jonatan Christie, depending on their performances in the crucial evening matches. The group standings are tight, and every game, every point, could tip the balance.
As the dust settles on a dramatic second day, one thing’s clear: Indonesian badminton still has fight left. The journey’s been rocky, but with pride and determination, the remaining players are ready to battle on. Fans will be glued to their screens as the group stage reaches its climax, hoping for a turnaround that’ll keep the red-and-white flag flying high in Hangzhou.
