In a significant development for Indonesian badminton, top men’s singles players Jonatan Christie and Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo have announced their decision to transition into professional careers, stepping away from centralized training at the national badminton training center (pelatnas) of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI).
PBSI has expressed its respect for this decision, viewing it as a form of transformation towards a more adaptable and flexible coaching system that remains measured and responsible. In an official statement, PBSI conveyed, “PBSI respects this decision as a form of transformation towards a more adaptive, flexible, yet measured and responsible coaching system.”
Despite their departure from the national training center, both Jonatan Christie, affectionately known as “Jojo,” and Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo will continue to be under the umbrella of PBSI and will proudly represent Indonesia in international tournaments. PBSI emphasized this collaborative approach to national coaching, stating, “Even though they will train outside the national training center, Jojo and Chico will remain under the auspices of PBSI and will continue to represent Indonesia in international tournaments. This is a collaborative step in national coaching with one goal: to elevate the achievements of Indonesian badminton to a higher level.”
Currently, Jonatan Christie stands as Indonesia’s number one men’s singles player. His illustrious career includes a gold medal victory at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta and Palembang. He was also a key figure in Indonesia’s triumphant victory at the 2020 Thomas Cup in Aarhus, Denmark, alongside Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo.
While both players contributed to the Thomas Cup success, their individual journeys in the BWF World Tour have seen different trajectories. Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo has secured two BWF World Tour titles and finished as a runner-up twice, with his most significant achievement being the championship at the 2022 Malaysia Masters, a Super 500 tournament.
Jonatan Christie, on the other hand, boasts a more extensive record on the BWF World Tour, having claimed seven titles and finished as a runner-up eight times. His most prestigious victory came at the 2024 All England Open, a Super 1000 tournament. Notably, Jonatan has achieved the unique feat of winning at least one title at every level of the BWF World Tour (Super 300, Super 500, Super 750, and Super 1000). The only major accolades that have eluded him so far are the World Tour Finals and the BWF World Championships titles.
This move by Jonatan Christie and Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo marks a new chapter in their careers and reflects a dynamic shift in Indonesia’s approach to developing its top badminton talent. The badminton community will be watching closely to see how this new arrangement impacts their performance on the international stage.