hariansurabaya.com | The 2025 QBF Badminton Open tournament, held at the Middle East International School in Qatar, witnessed the strong influence of Indonesian players on the international stage.
One of the main actors is Mustaqim Nur Cahyo.
In this tournament, he demonstrated his class as a versatile player who is able to compete equally well in both singles and doubles.
Mustaqim’s men’s singles campaign was halted in the quarterfinals after being defeated by compatriot Muhammad Zaenun Zidan. However, the defeat didn’t dampen his spirits.
For him, competing against fellow Indonesian players abroad presents its own emotional challenges. The atmosphere of a match feels very different from playing against players from other countries due to the strong bonds of camaraderie.
“Playing against our own teammates in Qatar was a mixed bag. Off the field, we were all together, but once on the field, prestige as a fighter was still number one,” said the Sidoarjo-born man.
He added, “When I lost to Zidane, I admit he was better prepared that day. But that’s the beauty of badminton: we can compete fiercely while still maintaining camaraderie.”
The defeat didn’t discourage him, but rather fueled his desire to perform at his best. He and Iman Hoerudin rebounded in the men’s doubles event and secured third place. This achievement completed Indonesia’s dominance, which swept the podium in Qatar.
Mustaqim’s presence in Qatar is clear evidence that the quality of players trained by Indonesian clubs, especially Galaxy Sidoarjo, has a globally recognized standard. (ist)
