The Badminton Hall in the Wilis Stadium Complex witnessed the start of the prestigious Madiun City PBSI Championship (Kejurkot) 2026 on Sunday (27/7). The competition, scheduled to run for five days until July 31, was officially opened by the Acting Mayor of Madiun, F. Bagus Panuntun.
This year, the championship features 307 participants divided into two main categories: competitive development and recreational groups. This approach is designed to scout promising young talents while serving as a platform of appreciation for the local badminton community, ranging from veteran categories to non-club women's groups.
Secretary of PBSI Madiun City, Anang Riyanto, explained that out of the total registered participants, 136 are development athletes from 11 clubs under the auspices of PBSI Madiun City. Meanwhile, the other 171 participants are competing in recreational categories, including veteran age groups (combined ages U-90 to U-110) and the women's doubles division.
Public enthusiasm has been remarkably high, particularly in the recreational women's doubles category, which broke registration records with 51 pairs. For the young athletes competing across 14 age groups, this event is a crucial stepping stone, as the winners are projected to enter the City Training Center (Platkot) in preparation for the East Java Provincial Championship (Kejurprov) and Provincial Sports Week (Porprov).
By integrating professional athletes and hobbyist communities, the 2026 PBSI Championship is expected to remain a consistent annual sporting event. Beyond fostering community ties, this tournament is envisioned to foster a new generation of badminton athletes who can bring pride to Madiun on both national and international stages.
