Nine Athletes Join PB Djarum

A total of nine athletes successfully received the Djarum Badminton Scholarship and officially joined the PB Djarum club. The new residents of the club based in Kudus consist of one U-11 male athlete, two U-11 female athletes, two KU 11 male athletes, one KU 11 female athlete, two KU 12 male athletes, and one KU 12 female athlete. They come from various regions across the country, including Sorong, Balikpapan, Samarinda, Manado, and Bantul.

Program Director of Djarum Foundation's Sports Service and also Chairman of PB Djarum, Yoppy Rosimin, congratulated the selected scholarship recipients. He also urged those who were not successful in joining PB Djarum not to give up. Because there are still other ways to achieve the dream of becoming a professional badminton player.

Welcome to the young talents who are officially becoming part of the PB Djarum family. Keep the flame of your enthusiasm burning, because this is the starting point for embarking on a career as a badminton athlete with various achievements. For those who haven't succeeded yet, don't be discouraged because there are still other opportunities. "Keep up the spirit and #KeepUpTheChampionSpirit," said Yoppy.

These young badminton players were selected from 1,729 participants in the PB Djarum 2025 General Audition from various regions in Indonesia. They went thru a fairly long struggle during the selection process, from the screening round and tournaments to the quarantine stage for over three weeks, which began on September 13, 2025.

The rigorous and complex evaluation by the Talent Search Team and the coaching staff of PB Djarum included physical tests, individual abilities, character and daily life in the dormitory, as well as additional health tests during the second quarantine selection stage. Previously, in the first quarantine elimination round (9/27), 28 athletes remained out of 50 participants who earned Super Tickets. Then, this second quarantine round was re-selected until only nine athletes were chosen.

The head of the PB Djarum 2025 General Audition Talent Search Team, Sigit Budiarto, emphasized that the athletes who successfully passed were those who met the strict criteria set by the talent search team and the PB Djarum coaching staff. Among them are having a combination of skilled techniques, super quality, and a true fighting spirit that doesn't give up easily. He described this selection process as a steep road to a big dream.

"The PB Djarum 2025 General Audition has seen an improvement in quality across all age groups for both boys and girls, but within our club, we have certain standards that athletes must meet." We see that competition in badminton is becoming increasingly fierce these days. Nevertheless, we must prepare the best athletes with super quality who can later bring glory to Indonesia on the world stage. So, finally, nine athletes were selected who, in our opinion, met the criteria," said Sigit.

The 1997 World Champion also advised the newly joined young athletes to continue honing their potential and abilities so they can carry on the baton of Indonesian badminton's success. PB Djarum, said Sigit, not only provides comprehensive training but also regularly sends its athletes to compete in various national and international tournaments. They are expected to continue and even surpass the achievements of their seniors.

"The PB Djarum General Audition is not just a competition to find top talent, but also a symbol of perseverance, self-proof, and a gateway to the world stage. Behind every swung racket lies the dream of Indonesian athletes to see the Red and White flag fly again at the pinnacle of world badminton. We want these young ones to keep the flame of the champion's spirit burning. Don't be easily satisfied, because the road to the peak of achievement is still long," added Sigit.

One of the KU 12 Boys athletes who successfully achieved his dream of joining PB Djarum is Rafa Radithya Kusuma from Samarinda City, East Kalimantan. This athlete, who previously trained at PB Jaya Raya Ragunan, feels proud that his dream of becoming a world badminton player with PB Djarum is beginning to be realized.

"I didn't expect to get in and be chosen to join PB Djarum, because it was my hope to get here (PB Djarum) and become a professional badminton athlete." This is my first general audition. "I hope I can achieve my dream of making it to the Olympics," Rafa said.

Joy was also felt by Afiqa Dewi Humaira from Bogor Regency, West Java, from the U-11 Girls category, who successfully received the Djarum Badminton Scholarship. This athlete from PB Jimmy Hantu expressed gratitude for being selected from a total of 257 U-11 Girls participants at the PB Djarum General Audition 2025.

I've loved badminton since I was five years old. I really wanted to join PB Djarum and was also supported by my parents and club coaches. "I'm grateful to have been chosen, and I promise to do my best to improve even further in the future," said the participant, who was born on May 28, 2015.

Here are the recipients of the 2025 Djarum Badminton Scholarship: (Age Group, Name, Originating Regency/City):

U-11 Boys:

1. Tristan Geovanni Pardosi - Tangerang Regency

U-11 Girls:

1. Afiqa Dewi Humaira - Bogor Regency
2. Kesy Hanifa Ramadhani - Bekasi City

KU 11 Putra:

1. La Ode Muhammad Ahsan Kamil - Sorong City
2. Muhammad Rafa Shirdi - Balikpapan City

KU 11 Putri:

1. Shallom Angelica Sari - Jepara Regency

KU 12 Boys:

1. Keith Ezequiel Lincoln Sumarauw - Manado City
2. Rafa Radithya Kusuma - Samarinda City

KU 12 Putri:

1. Syauqia Aisya Inara - Bantul Regency