Indonesia's young badminton talents once again had the opportunity to showcase their talents on the international stage. Their performances reflected the ongoing development process implemented by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) with the full support of PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI).
The champion mentality cultivated through consistent experience competing in various international events continues to show positive results. This was reflected in the success of two young Indonesian men's singles players, Alwi Farhan Alhasny and Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah, in advancing to the semifinals of the Australian Badminton Open 2026 at Quaycentre, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney, Australia.
BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said that Alwi and Ubed's success shows that young Indonesian athletes have the ability to compete at the top level while also demonstrating the results of a consistent and tiered coaching process.
"In addition to improving technical skills, experience competing in various international tournaments also plays a crucial role in developing the winning mentality and competitiveness of young Indonesian athletes," Okki said in a written statement.
Alwi secured his place in the semifinals after defeating Taiwan's Lee Chia Hao in the quarterfinals. Alwi won in straight games, 21-18, 21-15. This victory also improved on his performance at last year's Australian Open, where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
This result continues Alwi's series of competitive experiences in a number of major tournaments, having previously appeared at the Singapore Open and the Indonesia Open.
In the meantime, Ubed became the second Indonesian representative to secure a semifinal spot after defeating Justin Hoh of Malaysia in the quarterfinals. He displayed a convincing performance, winning in straight games, 21-7, 21-13, in just 38 minutes.
Their battle continues. In the semifinals, Alwi will face Hong Kong's men's singles player, while Ubed is scheduled to face China's Dong Tian Yao. If both can overcome their respective opponents, Indonesia has a chance to create an all-Indonesian final in the men's singles event at the Australian Open 2026.
"We hope that the experience of competing in top-level tournaments like this will further strengthen the confidence and maturity of young Indonesian athletes. The regeneration process requires experience and the opportunity to compete consistently at the international level," Okki emphasized.
Support for young athletes is part of BNI's long-term commitment to fostering the next generation of Indonesian badminton players capable of competing at the global level.
Through this collaboration with PBSI, BNI hopes to provide more young players with opportunities to develop and gain international experience. BNI believes this represents a long-term investment in the development of Indonesia's younger generation, which will gradually solidify Indonesia's position as a major global badminton force.