JAKARTA - Indonesia dramatically bounced back from a deficit to beat Thailand in the second match of Group D of the 2026 Thomas Cup. The result makes the Garuda Squad comfortable at the top of the standings.
The second match of the qualifying round that Indonesia played at the Forum Horsens, Horsens, Denmark, on Sunday, April 26, 2026, WIB night, was tense. Two of the three men's singles who played had to taste defeat.
Thailand took the first point in this match through the men's singles. World number two badminton player Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who took part in the match, successfully defeated Jonatan Christie with a score of 21-16, 20-22, and 22-20.
Indonesia then tied the score through the men's doubles Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani. The pair, who are debutants in the Thomas Cup, stopped Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn/Worrapol Thongsa-nga in a two-game match 21-17 and 21-18.
"Of course it's really happy to be able to play for the first time in the Thomas Cup. Even though there was quite a bit of pressure felt because the team was losing, thank God we were able to secure the points," said Sabar after the match.
Indonesia then fell behind in the third match due to Alwi Farhan's loss as the second men's singles. The 2023 junior world champion failed to take the lead in three games 21-14, 17-21, and 16-21 against Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul.
The victory made Panitchaphon equal head-to-head with Alwi to 2-2. He had previously lost two consecutive matches at the 2025 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship and the 2026 Indonesia Masters in early January after winning their first clash at the 2022 Junior World Championships.
"I admit that I was under pressure from the second and third games. He was able to develop the game, different from our previous meeting (at the 2026 Indonesia Masters)," said Alwi.
The men's doubles Fajar Alfian/Nikolaus Joaquin who played in the fourth match managed to save Indonesia's fate. They successfully overcame the pair of Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul with a dramatic three-game match 19-21, 21-17, and 25-23.
Indonesia's victory was then confirmed by the men's singles Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah in the fifth match. The badminton player from Madura successfully silenced his opponent Tanawat Yimjit in the two-game match 21-11 and 21-12.
Indonesia still has one group stage match against France on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Jonatan Christie and his colleagues need to win the match to qualify for the quarterfinals with the status as group champions.
Currently, Indonesia is sitting at the top of the standings with two points from two matches. Previously, Indonesia won easily with a score of 5-0 when they met Algeria in the first match.
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