16 Athletes Earn Super Ticket at PB Djarum 2026 Badminton Audition in Makassar

A total of 16 athletes have secured a "Super Ticket" at the PB Djarum 2026 Badminton Audition held in Makassar, South Sulawesi. The group comprises six athletes who advanced through the tournament pathway and 10 selected by the talent scouting team. These successful candidates are now set to enter a four-week quarantine period at GOR Djarum Jati in Kudus, Central Java. There, they will compete for the Djarum Badminton Scholarship, funded by the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation.

Sigit Budiarto, head of the PB Djarum 2026 Audition scouting team, commended the 233 participants in Makassar. He urged the Super Ticket recipients not to rest on their laurels, emphasizing the upcoming quarantine phase from September 14 to October 9, which includes two elimination rounds on September 28 and October 10. "We, the scouting team, were quite impressed with the character of the athletes' games at the PB Djarum 2026 - Makassar General Audition. Many already possess good basic skills and quite a few have participated in auditions before. However, we must select the best according to PB Djarum's needs," Budiarto stated.

Badminton legend Liliyana Natsir, who observed the auditions, noted the promising potential among the female athletes. She highlighted their relatively tall stature and strong hitting power as key assets for higher-level development. "If we look at the female athletes in Makassar, I see many who have tall physiques and good power. This is certainly a good starting point, although they still need to hone their technique, consistency, and playing ability to develop further," Natsir said. She also expressed gratitude for the audition's return outside Java, expanding opportunities for regional talent to receive quality training.

Fellow badminton star Tontowi Ahmad observed the participants' fighting spirit and courage. He believes these qualities, along with their skills, are crucial for success. The auditions aim to identify and nurture the next generation of Indonesian badminton talent, providing a platform for aspiring players from across the archipelago to pursue their dreams.