Deni Dani

There are some young athletes who somehow have something different. Something beyond the required technical skills. That indefinable “X factor” which you just sense gives them the potential to develop into something special. I sensed that when I saw Hendra Setiawan and his partner, the late Markis Kido, defeat the former world champions Sigit Budiarto and Candra Wijaya in the final of the 2005 Indonesia Open. So too when I first saw both Tai Tzu Ying and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. All had that something extra. Something I can’t quite pinpoint or describe but could tangibly sense was both special and different when compared to other talented youngsters. I got that same feeling watching Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin winning the recent #AustraliaOpen2025. They are quite obviously hugely talented individuals, good technical skills, dynamic, adventurous and aggressive, making them exciting to watch. And there is absolutely no doubt they’ve had an unbelievable start to their partnership. 6 titles from 8 finals in their first 12 tournaments together, including the title in Sydney when playing in their first ever Super 500 event on the #BWFWorldTour. As a new young pair, they haven’t yet experienced the pressures that go with star status. With the innocence of youth, they have been able to compete with uninhibited freedom. To simply enjoy the thrill of the exhilarating ride while surfing on the crest of the sporting wave of success, blissfully unaware of the dangers that lurk in the murky waters beneath. But the moment you achieve an outstanding result, the uninhibited innocence is shattered, and you are forced to deal with the harsh reality of sport – pressure and the heavy burden of expectation. There has been so much talk and excitement surrounding Indra and Joaquin, and with that spotlight comes pressure. But that’s a fundamental and unavoidable part of sport. How they now handle and deal with that pressure will be crucial in their development. There’s no doubting the raw talent and potential of these two young Indonesians, and I can’t help but sense, we may just have witnessed the start of something special. 📷 @badmintonphoto #Badminton