The search for talented young badminton players has once again yielded results. The PB Djarum 2026 General Audition Pekanbaru series has officially selected 15 young badminton players who successfully secured "Super Tickets". They are now preparing to undergo a four-week intensive quarantine phase in Kudus, Central Java, from September 14 to October 9, 2026.
Out of the 15 selected athletes, six of them were champions in the tournament stage, while the other nine secured "Super Tickets" through the selection path of the Talent Scouting Team. This decision was based on deep observations of the potential, technique, and competitive mentality shown by the participants during the selection process.
Program Director of Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation, Yoppy Rosimin, appreciated the high enthusiasm and quality of play displayed by the participants in Pekanbaru. According to him, the island of Sumatra continues to prove itself as a granary of potential athletes capable of maintaining the sustainability of national badminton regeneration in the future.
Head of the Talent Scouting Team, Sigit Budiarto, highlighted the diversity of talent found, including the emergence of several left-handed players with promising techniques. He emphasized that these qualified athletes will soon join other selected participants from Makassar and Kudus to undergo a more comprehensive development phase.
Some names that caught attention in this event include Jayden Octave Tiolando from Siak and Chelsea Amanda from Deli Serdang, who successfully became champions in their respective categories. Additionally, athletes like Bellvania Safistika Sheila Mahaeswari and Ray Ethan Jourell also received special appreciation from the judging team despite not advancing to the final round, thanks to the high fighting spirit they demonstrated.
After successfully wrapping up the Pekanbaru series, the PB Djarum 2026 General Audition series will move to the next city, namely Makassar. The selection is scheduled to be held at GOR Dafest on August 5-9, 2026, serving as the next golden opportunity for young Indonesian athletes to hone their skills toward the professional level.
