Jonatan Christie, Sabar/Reza on longlist for 2026 Asian Games badminton

Indonesian badminton players Jonatan Christie and the men's doubles pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi have been included in the longlist of potential athletes to represent Indonesia at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Eng Hian, a coach, confirmed that Christie and the Sabar/Reza duo are among the top non-national training center players who have a chance to compete. "Of course, if currently, the players outside the national training center who are still top elite are only Jojo and Sabar/Reza. They are certainly still names that are included in the long list," Eng Hian stated during a press conference in Jakarta.

The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) will conduct further selections based on player performance, physical condition, and the technical needs of the coaching team. "So for the short list, we are still discussing... it must be discussed with the first deputy chairman, as well as the chairman. And certainly, that discussion involves coaches for the team's needs and the achievement of targets that are expected to be met," Eng Hian added.

The Indonesian badminton team has set a target of winning at least one gold medal at the quadrennial event. Both the men's singles and men's doubles categories are considered strong contenders for medals. Additionally, the mixed doubles pair Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu also has a potential chance to compete.

The final list of players will be announced after the BWF World Championships, which run from August 17-23. A total of ten male and ten female athletes are expected to represent Indonesia in badminton at the games.