Indonesia Team Heads to Swiss Open 2026 Despite Iran Conflict Disrupting Air Routes

The Indonesian national badminton association’s central board (PP PBSI) has confirmed that the national team will still depart to compete in the Swiss Open 2026. The decision was made even as the escalating Middle East conflict disrupts the stability of commercial flight routes in the region. PBSI Secretary General Ricky Soebagdja explained that the geopolitical situation forced the Indonesian team to take a longer travel route. The mitigation strategy involved diverting the main transit route through Istanbul, Turkey, to ensure the safety of all personnel. ‘We are ensuring that the Indonesian team departing from Jakarta to Switzerland is safe and ready to undertake this long journey,’ Ricky said in an official statement on Friday (6/3). The group of athletes and officials is scheduled to depart from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, on Saturday (7/3). For logistical efficiency, the team was split into two flight groups (kloter) using Turkish Airlines: Both groups will transit in Istanbul before continuing to Basel, Switzerland. PBSI stressed that the health and mental readiness of the athletes remain top priorities given the longer travel time than usual. ‘We hope all players and officials can travel well, quickly adapt to the conditions there, and prepare themselves optimally to face the Swiss Open,’ added the 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold medallist. The Swiss Open 2026 is scheduled to run 10-15 March at St. Jakobshalle, Basel. As a BWF World Tour Super 300 event, this tournament provides a crucial platform for Indonesian athletes to earn world ranking points. The event offers total prize money of US$250,000, equivalent to around Rp4.2 billion. The presence of the Indonesian team amid these global logistical challenges demonstrates PBSI’s strong commitment to maintaining badminton achievements on the international stage. Tournament Information: (Z-10) Captain of the Indonesian national team, Asnawi Mangkualam, was not called up by coach Shin Tae-yong (STY). Indonesian national team striker Malik Risaldi suffered a split in the eyebrow that bled after colliding heads with Bahrain defender Waleed Alhayam. Indonesia’s women’s singles, Putri Kusuma Wardani, remains unstoppable at All England 2026. The sixth seed secured a quarter-final ticket. Indonesia’s fourth seed in men’s singles, Jonatan Christie, remains untroubled in the first round of All England 2026. Tiwi/Fadia advanced to the semi-finals of the German Open after defeating Hong Kong pair Lui Lok Lok/Tsang Hiu Yan 21-15, 21-14. Partnering with Singapore’s Hee Yong Kai Terry, Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja is determined to realise her ambition to reach the podium after twice finishing as runner-up. Apriyani/Lanny had to acknowledge the superiority of Japan’s Kaho Osawa/Mai Tanabe in the round of 16 at the German Open.