PB Djarum Claims Junior Title
One person’s victory is a victory for all,
Christabel Calista Purwanto said after securing the decisive point for her club.
Christabel Calista Purwanto scored her 15th point in the second game on Sunday afternoon, sending her teammates rushing onto the court at the Djarum Sports Hall in Jati, Kudus, Central Java, kompas.id reported.
Calista defeated Lin Tsai Chieh with scores of 15-3 and 15-5. The victory secured a 3-0 win for PB Djarum against Taiwan’s CY Foundation Badminton, clinching the title in the U-19 girls’ category of the MilkLife Superliga Junior 2026.
The win allowed Calista and her teammates to reclaim the championship that slipped away last year. Although Calista was part of the 2025 roster, she served as the third singles player and did not play as her team fell 0-3.
I’ve participated in the Superliga Junior four times, starting from U-17,
the 18-year-old player said. I’m happy to end it with a championship because this is my final year.
Calista Transitions to Senior Competition as Dirga and Rizqi Win U-13 Boys' Final
For Calista, the tournament marks the end of her junior career and the start of her transition to senior competition. The situation differed for Jihad Dirga Anindito and Mochamad Rizqi Abdullah, a men’s doubles pair from Jaya Raya Solo, whose victory marked the start of their junior team experience.
Dirga and Rizqi secured a 3-2 win over Jaya Raya Satria in the U-13 boys’ final by defeating Ahmad Fayzan Ilmi and Rahmat Pujianto 15-12, 15-7.
It turned out to be really challenging playing in a team,
Rizqi said. This was my first time, so I could imagine what it would be like to be like the national training camp players at the Asian Games and World Championships.
Rayya Aqila Qaireen, a women’s singles player from Taqi Arena Badminton Academy who finished as runner-up in the U-13 girls’ team tournament, noted that team events allow players to share roles and support struggling teammates with cheers, drums, and trumpets, kompas.id reported.
Fung Permadi and Achmad Budiharto Discuss Team Play Pressures
PB Djarum team manager Fung Permadi stated that the tournament gives athletes a taste of team play, unique pressures, and responsibilities distinct from individual competitions, kompas.id reported.
When playing individually, an athlete only has to focus on themselves, but in a team setting, the responsibility is greater as they represent the team,
Fung said. The pressure is not the same, and not all athletes can handle it well.
Superliga Director Achmad Budiharto noted that excluding major clubs from the U-13 category allowed smaller clubs to showcase their talents and contributed to the emergence of new young players, kompas.id reported.
Foreign clubs also reached the finals, with Malaysia’s Bukit Jalil Sports School finishing as runner-up in the U-15 girls’ category and CY Foundation Badminton reaching the U-19 girls’ final.
Championship Results
In other division finals, Jaya Raya Satria defeated Taqi Arena Badminton Academy 3-0 to claim the U-13 girls’ title, while Jaya Raya Jakarta beat Mutiara Cardinal 3-1 to win the U-15 category, kompas.id reported.
PB Djarum dominated multiple divisions, defeating Bukit Jalil Sports School 3-0 in the U-15 girls’ final, Mutiara Cardinal 3-0 in the U-17 girls’ final, Jaya Raya 3-1 in the U-17 boys’ final, CY Foundation Badminton 3-0 in the U-19 girls’ final, and Jaya Raya 3-1 in the U-19 boys’ final.
Winners received their medals and trophies on stage as parents and fellow athletes watched from the stands.
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