Maulana-Carnado's win in Thailand last week gave them some confidence, but that did not last long in Basel.

Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana came to Switzerland as the third seeds. But they could not reach the quarterfinals as they lost to unseeded Malaysians Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai 21–12, 21–23, 21–16 in a 53-minute match.

The loss stings because of what came immediately before it. Leo and Bagas had just won the Thailand Masters title. The victory felt like a fresh start and a sign that the pair had found their form again. But the tournament in Basel quickly showed that they still have problems to fix.

Indonesian badminton journalist Putra Tegar looked at the loss in detail, and no one was satisfied. After they were disappointed at the All England, the Swiss tournament was a chance for them to finish a difficult period with a good result. But that did not happen for them.

He said the pair has struggled with poor results for about 10 months, which has affected their confidence, but according to him, their win in Thailand last week was not enough to fully rebuild their understanding and teamwork as a pair.

Badminton Fans Didn’t Hold Back After Basel Exit

The frustration of fans isn't just noise, but there's a pattern behind it.

"Nothing's right about the two. Wasted," wrote one fan on X. The comment cut to what many supporters have been feeling for months, that two players with genuine individual quality are consistently falling short of what that quality should produce together.

Another fan zeroed in on Bagas specifically as "Bagas is stuck. Got a smash that's total garbage, but on the field it's useless anyway."

The frustration wasn't limited to performance. Some fans questioned where the pair's ambitions now sit. "What level do these two want to go down to? IC IS level? That's embarrassing," wrote one commenter, a pointed reference to lower-tier domestic competition.

The sharpest reaction came from those questioning the partnership's future altogether. "Leo, if you're sick of Bagas, just say so. Go back to Daniel already,"

one fan wrote a direct call for Leo to reunite with former partner Daniel. Putra Tegar echoed a similar sentiment, describing the Swiss defeat as what looks like the match point for a split.

The conversation has shifted. It is no longer about whether Leo and Bagas can rediscover form. It is about whether the partnership has a future at all.

Is it time for Leo and Bagas to go their separate ways? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi