January 20, 2026 | 06:13 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta — Indonesian men’s singles badminton player Anthony Sinisuka Ginting has opted not to set specific targets at the Indonesia Masters 2026, choosing instead to focus on regaining consistency following his return from injury.
“I’ve just played again at Istora, and I’m not thinking too much about targets,” Ginting said after his qualifying match at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
“What matters most is being able to perform at my best in every match.”
Ginting advanced to the main draw after defeating Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21–12, 21–7. His appearance at the BWF Super 500 tournament came unexpectedly, as he had initially been listed as an alternate.
“Being able to play today is certainly by God’s will. From the start, I was on the waiting list and only received confirmation at the last minute,” he said.
“But whether I was playing or not, I still prepared myself for the Indonesia Masters.”
The Indonesia Masters 2026 marks Ginting’s first tournament of the year and his return to competitive action since the French Open in October 2025, where he suffered a shoulder injury. Despite the extended absence, he said he encountered no major difficulties on court.
In the first round, the Indonesia Masters champion in 2018 and 2020 is scheduled to face Belgium’s Julien Carraggi on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Ginting described 2025 as a difficult year, marked by recurring injuries that limited his appearances and caused his world ranking to fall to 76th. Entering the new season, he said he is effectively rebuilding his career.
“2025 was not easy. There were many challenges and things did not go smoothly,” said the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist.
“As I entered 2026, I reflected on everything. This is a path I have to take. It feels like starting from the beginning again.”
He admitted that the long break had affected his confidence, but said the strong support from the home crowd at Istora gave him an added boost.
“It was beyond my expectations. Usually, the first day of the qualifiers isn’t very crowded, but today the atmosphere was quite lively,” he said.
Ginting also suggested that more affordable ticket prices may have helped draw fans to the venue. “That could be one of the reasons badminton fans chose to come in person,” he said.
With his physical condition improving, Ginting said his main focus at the season-opening tournament is to maintain his form and rediscover his best rhythm, without placing pressure on himself through specific result targets.
Read: Jonatan Christie Withdraws from Indonesia Masters 2026
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