Thomas Cup 2026 Tragedy: Indonesia Eliminated in Group Stage, Total Regeneration Needed

Republika reports on a devastating blow to Indonesian badminton, as the national team experienced its darkest moment in the Thomas Cup history. A crushing 1-4 loss to France in the final Group D match on Wednesday (29/4/2026) confirmed Indonesia's elimination in the group stage, an unprecedented event since the tournament's inception in 1958.

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This is the first time Indonesia has failed to qualify from the group stage. We are holders of 14 championship titles and have reached the final in the last three editions.

This failure is particularly stinging given Indonesia's storied legacy in the Thomas Cup, having won the prestigious title 14 times and reaching the final in the last three editions. Sports commentator Mohamad Kusnaeni described the outcome as a major tragedy for national badminton, especially since Indonesia fielded its strongest squad, including top singles and doubles players, and held the second-seed position behind China.

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Our players were unable to show their best abilities. This was already evident since the narrow 3-2 win over Thailand.

The article delves into the reasons behind this shocking defeat, with Kusnaeni pointing to individual player underperformance rather than strategic errors. He highlighted the surprising losses of Alwi Farhan and Jonatan Christie as indicators of the team's inability to perform at their peak. This result underscores a shift in the global badminton landscape, where dominance is no longer guaranteed, prompting urgent calls for a complete overhaul and regeneration of the Indonesian team.

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The 1-4 loss to France and only a narrow win over Thailand are proof. We haven't even faced strong countries like China, South Korea, or Denmark yet.