Indonesian men's singles player Jonatan Christie is the only representative from Indonesia advancing to the semifinals of the India Open 2026. He will face Singapore's Loh Kean Yew on Saturday in New Delhi. His victory over Christo Popov in the quarterfinals secured his spot in the final four of the BWF World Tour Super 750 event.
New Delhi – Jonatan Christie, Indonesia's third-seeded men's singles player, secured his place as the sole Indonesian representative in the semifinals of the India Open 2026 by defeating France's Christo Popov in the quarterfinals on Friday. The match was a tight contest, with Jonatan winning in straight games, 21-19, 21-19, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex.
"First, praise to God for making it to the semifinals again. It's like a good start to the year, reaching semifinals here and in Malaysia last time. Hopefully, I can go further in this India Open," Jonatan said, quoted from PBSI statements.
Despite the straight-sets victory, Jonatan admitted the match was not easy. Wind and court conditions affected play, especially in the first game. In the second, he led 15-8 before Popov adopted a more patient approach, tightening the score. "At 15-8, he started playing more patiently and not rushing. Instead, I became a bit passive and made some unforced errors. That allowed him to come back, and it's a lesson for tomorrow to stay consistent until the end," Jonatan added.
The semifinal is scheduled for today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 12:30 WIB on Court 1. His opponent, Singapore's Loh Kean Yew, advanced after beating Thailand's second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-14, 15-21, 17-21. Jonatan is now prioritizing physical recovery. "The focus now is recovery first, enjoying the atmosphere, then preparing for tomorrow," he said.
Meanwhile, Indonesia's other representative, Putri Kusuma Wardani, was eliminated in the women's singles quarterfinals after losing to South Korea's An Se Young 16-21, 8-21. This outcome underscores Jonatan's role as Indonesia's main hope in the tournament.
