Kevin Sanjaya Withdraws From Pelatnas PBSI

Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo retired from Pelatnas PBSI (Instagram/@kevin_sanjaya).

JAKARTA Men's doubles specialist, Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, has officially decided to resign at the PBSI Cipayung national training camp (Pelatnas).

The news of the athlete's resignation was confirmed by the Head of PBSI's Development and Achievement, Ricky Soebagdja, at a press conference at the Cipayung National Training Center, East Jakarta, Thursday, May 16, 2024, morning WIB.

Ricky said whether in the future Kevin would continue his career in badminton as a professional athlete or not, he did not know for sure.

"As a national athlete at the National Training Center, I said goodbye. If he wants to continue playing or not, we don't know. So, from the National Training Center, as a national athlete, he has said goodbye," said Ricky.

Kevin had previously conveyed the desire to withdraw from Pelatnas to Ricky in their first meeting on April 6, 2024.

However, the official announcement was just made to the media today due to the athlete's privacy considerations. This announcement is based on Kevin's blessing in the second meeting, Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Ricky explained that he did not know for sure whether this decision to resign had anything to do with his partner, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, who had already retired.

"There is no such talk (that he resigned because Gideon was retired), but what Kevin said when we met in April 2024 was that he would withdraw from the National Training Center," he said.

"The reason is maybe because he (Kevin) hasn't played or what because it's been quite a while. However, if Gideon joins, I don't know exactly."

"Maybe they both have communication or not, we don't know," said Ricky.

Marcus had previously announced his retirement from badminton in early March 2024 through his official social media account.

As a tribute to the two former world number one badminton players, PBSI will also hold a special farewell event at the Indonesia Open 2024 in June 2024.