Match-fixing allegations drag Indonesian badminton players' names, observer: Wait for BWF ruling

An Indonesian badminton observer has called for calm and patience as the sport awaits the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) official ruling on alleged match-fixing involving Indonesian players. The observer, identified as Daryadi, stressed that the investigation is ongoing and no conclusions can be drawn yet regarding the players' involvement.

"Let's just wait for the announcement from BWF," Daryadi told Republika.co.id on Tuesday (August 4, 2026). He explained that the BWF generally only launches an investigation upon receiving a report from a party that feels disadvantaged. He considers it rare, almost unheard of, for the BWF to initiate an investigation without a prior report.

Match-fixing is not a new issue in badminton, Daryadi noted, comparing it to something that can be felt but is difficult to prove. As a long-time commentator, he claims to have often sensed signs of matches that were suspicious. One indication, he suggested, is when a higher-ranked and more experienced player loses to an opponent of lower caliber. He recalled a past instance where a top Chinese player repeatedly failed to win in Jakarta, losing to underdogs despite being dominant in his prime.

However, without official reports to the BWF, these matches never entered the investigation phase. Daryadi added that match-fixing is not always linked to gambling. In some cases, match outcomes can be manipulated as part of team strategy, either by player decision or coach's instruction. The goal might be to avoid a specific opponent in a later round or to gain an advantage in ranking points. If such a strategy disadvantages a party, a report can then be filed with the BWF.

Regarding the current allegations, Daryadi reiterated the importance of waiting for the BWF's investigation results before making judgments. He also recalled that the issue was previously raised by former Indonesian doubles star Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. In 2022, Kevin revealed that he and his partner Marcus Fernaldi Gideon were asked to lose a match during the 2016 India Open final. "At that point in the India Open final, my first Super Series final in 2016, I was almost told to lose by the coach, but we refused," Kevin stated at the time. He explained that he and Marcus chose to play seriously, while...

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Let's just wait for the announcement from BWF.