JAKARTA – In today’s era, badminton, football or other sports matches can easily be watched on TV or smart phone. Unlike the era when television was still so rare.
The progress of the match from the first to the last minute and the other moments that accompany it, can be followed very easily. Everything has changed, everything is easy. These facilities can dissuade people from going to the arena.
Furthermore, social media also plays an important role in today’s times. Fans of the world of sport do not need to tire themselves out to build an imagination in their skull for a match scene that they only listened to on the radio.
In addition to on-field actions, other off-field visuals can also be easily found as they surely circulate in the cyber universe. However, the narrative of ease of access does not mean that it can meet satisfaction.
Although live broadcasts are available on many platforms, the atmosphere of the match still cannot be fully translated onto the screen. The tumult of spectators in the stadium, the tension at crucial points, as well as the small gestures of the athletes on the field often lose their meaning when only observed from a screen.
This is why the experience of looking or seeing directly has always had an irreplaceable attraction for a long time. This phenomenon is also clearly visible in the organization of the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2026, a “popular festival” event open to all levels of badminton fans.
The queue of spectators before the final of the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2026 (VOI/Cosmas Kopong Beda).
Amid the influx of digital media, thousands of spectators still came to the arena. They took the time, are willing to spend money on tickets, and pile in to see their heroes in live action.
For some, watching a match in a stadium is more than seeing the final score, it’s feeling the collective emotion, something that certainly can’t be entirely transferred to a television screen or mobile device.
“What’s amazing is that the audience prefers strategic positions, even if they have to spend more money, that is, VIP positions,” said Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2026 Organizing Committee Chairman Achmad Budiharto.
However, it is not easy to attract the audience so that they are willing to spend money to buy a ticket to a match or just come to the venue where the event is taking place.
This is not an easy task, especially in the last few years since the pandemic badminton events in Istora have lost their appeal.
Therefore, a breakthrough is needed for the audience to feel close and involved again. To be able to bring the euphoria back to Istora, the concept of the organization was completely changed, including giving spectators the opportunity to interact more quickly with Istora by removing the barriers at the main gates.
The changes are not only aimed at atmosphere, but also at accessibility. Very friendly ticket and food prices are also one of the keys. The committee has deliberately designed a user-friendly viewing experience package for various strata to remove the stigma that watching badminton first-hand is expensive entertainment.
The inroads made at the Indonesian Masters 2026 can be considered successful and received a positive reaction, although things remain to be evaluated, especially in hosting the Indonesian Open 2026, a much bigger stage in June.
“Yesterday we were a little shocked in the semi-final. I apologize to the spectators who bought tickets yesterday, they can’t get in because there are so many people in there. We plan these things better,” Budi said.
Stade Istora Senayan, Jakarta, pendant of the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2026 (VOI/Cosmas Kopong Beda).
However, lowering the price of tickets and food and giving spectators the freedom to access Istora is certainly not enough to satisfy spectators. Those who come to Istora are certainly hoping for something bigger, namely to see Indonesia’s representatives achieve the best results.
The decline in Indonesian badminton performance may also have an influence on the enthusiasm for watching the public. Badminton fans always have high expectations when their heroes receive support from the audience itself. They don’t come to watch defeats.
“Now it is up to PBSI because they are the ones who will have to prepare the athletes, to know how they can regenerate the players and present performances. That’s the challenge for them,” Budi said.
The signal of revival has at least started to be seen at the Indonesian Masters 2026. Amid public concern over performances, young names have slowly given hope like Alwi Farhan.
The 20-year-old played almost perfectly in the final to win his first title at the BWF Super 500 level. Off the field, he is also a confident young player and has excellent public speaking skills when speaking at length in front of the media.
The same case was also witnessed by the pair of young badminton men Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Joaquin who had to be content with finishing in second position. Their presence marked the beginning of the second layer of Indonesian badminton.
“This year, the players who entered the semi-finals are partly players of the new generation, who perhaps had not been considered last year. This year we see that progress is more visible. said PBSI communications director Eng Hian.
However, this progress is still fragile and requires serious support. One or two good tournaments are not enough to guarantee continuity of performance. PBSI’s difficult task is to ensure that this performance becomes a long-term baseline.
Istora Senayan will always be a magnet and the public support has proven that it still exists. However, the actions of Alwi, Raymond/Nikolaus, Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu, and others should also be captivating.
Tag: indonesia badminton masters badminton pbsi bwf istora senayan
