Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced a proposed revision to the Indonesian national badminton squad for the 2025 SEA Games, confirming that star players Jonatan Christie, Fajar Alfian, and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri will not be part of the team traveling to Laos next year.
According to Surono, Deputy for Sports Performance Development, the decision to revamp the squad aims to strike a balance between nurturing young talent and maintaining Indonesia’s strong medal ambitions.
“Our badminton team has shown significant progress. For the SEA Games 2025, we are aiming to strengthen our lineup by including more of the best-performing athletes,” Surono said during a press briefing in Jakarta.
Shift Toward Youth Development
Surono noted that while neighboring nations like Malaysia and Thailand plan to field their strongest squads, Indonesia initially leaned toward sending a younger team. However, discussions between the Review Committee and the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) led to an agreement to reconsider the roster.
“Malaysia and Thailand are sending their top players, so we’ve agreed to make several player adjustments. The best available players should represent Indonesia,” Surono explained.
They have since submitted an official proposal to PBSI for lineup changes. If approved, the ministry will coordinate with the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) and the SEA Games organizing committee to finalize the updated athlete registration.
“We are now in the process of submitting the technical adjustments from PBSI to KOI. Our team will ensure all administrative steps are completed properly,” Surono added.
New Generation Takes the Spotlight
Earlier, PBSI had announced a 20-player contingent comprising 10 men and 10 women for the SEA Games. Although largely composed of younger players, the squad includes several promising names already making waves at the national level.
Among them is Alwi Farhan, currently Indonesia’s top-ranked men’s singles player in the Indonesian national team.
In the mixed doubles, Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Pasaribu represent Indonesia’s most promising pair, while women’s singles will be led by Putri Kusuma Wardani — the reigning Indonesian No. 1 who earned a bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships.
In men’s doubles, Indonesia will rely on the dynamic pair Leo Rolly Carnando/Bagas Maulana, who bring valuable international experience and are expected to spearhead Indonesia’s gold medal campaign in the discipline.
A Strategic Move for Long-Term Success
The decision to rest senior players like Jonatan and Fajar reflects Indonesia’s broader vision of developing depth ahead of future major tournaments, including the Thomas Cup and 2028 Olympic cycle.
While some fans may be surprised by the absence of big names, officials emphasize that the SEA Games also serve as a vital platform to test emerging talent under international pressure.
With Indonesia’s young guns taking center stage, all eyes will be on how the next generation performs when the SEA Games 2025 badminton competition begins — marking a new chapter for one of the world’s most dominant badminton nations.
