The long-term commitment to building national sporting excellence has once again yielded tangible results. The young Indonesian men’s doubles pair, Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin, advanced to the final of the Indonesia Open 2026 after a series of impressive victories over top-ranked pairs from around the world.
This achievement demonstrates that the athlete development program implemented by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), with the ongoing support of PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI), has succeeded in producing young talents who are ready to compete at the highest international level.
Amid increasingly fierce competition in international badminton, Raymond and Joaquin’s success not only brings pride to Indonesia but also bolsters optimism regarding the continued success of the national badminton program through a planned and sustained effort to develop new talent.
BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said that Raymond and Joaquin’s achievements are proof that long-term investment in the development of young Indonesian talent is beginning to yield tangible results.
“Raymond and Joaquin’s success is proof that world-class achievements stem from a consistent, collaborative, and sustained development process. For BNI, supporting PBSI is a long-term investment in fostering a generation of outstanding Indonesians who can excel and bring honor to the nation on the world stage.”
“We are proud to see Indonesia’s young athletes grow, develop, and compete with the world’s best players. This achievement also reinforces our belief that, with the right development ecosystem, Indonesia will continue to produce generations of champions who uphold the tradition of national badminton excellence,” said Okki.
In the final, Raymond and Joaquin will face the Malaysian pair, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, who previously defeated the South Korean pair, Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae.
Raymond and Joaquin’s run to the final has been impressive. One of their key achievements was their victory over the world’s second-ranked pair from Malaysia, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. That victory demonstrated the young Indonesian pair’s ability to compete at the highest level and put pressure on the world’s elite players.
The positive momentum continued in the quarterfinals when Raymond and Joaquin defeated the Japanese pair, Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi, in a hard-fought three-game match. In that match, the duo demonstrated maturity in their play, composure under pressure, and a strong fighting spirit—all of which are essential qualities for competing at the highest level.
Although they are still relatively young compared to some of their rivals, Raymond and Joaquin have demonstrated competitive skills, a strong competitive spirit, and the champion’s character that form a crucial foundation for the future of Indonesian badminton.
Their success in reaching the final of the Indonesia Open 2026 is a positive sign that the PBSI’s player development program is on the right track. This achievement also demonstrates that sustained development efforts can produce young athletes who are ready to carry on Indonesia’s tradition of excellence on the world stage.
Appreciation for Rachel/Febi
BNI also commended the extraordinary performance of the young Indonesian women’s doubles pair, Rachel Allessya Rose and Febi Setianingrum, who advanced to the semifinals of the Indonesia Open 2026.
Facing the world’s top-ranked Chinese pair, Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning, Rachel and Febi put up a competitive fight and gave their opponents a tough challenge before ultimately conceding defeat with a score of 17-21, 16-21.
According to Okki, reaching the semifinals in a Super 1000-level tournament is a valuable experience that will accelerate their development as world-class athletes.
“Rachel and Febi have demonstrated a fighting spirit, courage, and a level of play that deserves recognition. Facing the world’s top-ranked pair is certainly no easy challenge, but they were able to compete at a high level and put up a strong fight. We are optimistic that this experience will serve as an important foundation for their future development,” said Okki.
Their success in reaching the semifinals proves that Indonesia’s women’s doubles sector also has great potential to continue developing and competing at the world’s elite level. Given their young age and ongoing training, Rachel and Febi are expected to play a key role in the future of Indonesian badminton.
As a strategic partner of PBSI, BNI consistently supports the development of the national badminton ecosystem, from early-age training and the development of young talent to supporting athletes in their journey to the world’s elite level. This commitment is part of BNI’s contribution to building high-caliber human resources capable of making Indonesia more competitive on the global stage.
Okki emphasized that BNI will continue to support PBSI’s efforts to strengthen the foundation of national athlete development so that Indonesia can continue to produce generations of champions in the future.
“BNI believes that international success does not happen overnight, but rather through a process of continuous development. Therefore, we are committed to continuing to support PBSI in creating an ecosystem that enables young Indonesian athletes to grow and reach their full potential.”
“Support for sports development is part of BNI’s contribution to preparing a generation of outstanding Indonesians who are capable of achieving excellence, competing on a global stage, and bringing honor to the nation on the world stage,” Okki concluded.
For BNI, every achievement by Indonesian athletes is not merely a victory on the field of play, but also a reflection of the success of long-term investments in the development of Indonesia’s youth. Raymond/Joaquin’s success in reaching the final and Rachel/Febi’s run to the semifinals of the Indonesia Open 2026 demonstrate that a strong collaboration between the sports and business worlds can yield sustainable achievements while solidifying Indonesia’s position as one of the world’s leading badminton powers.