World No. 5 Jonatan Christie Sends Heartfelt Message to Fans Ahead of Indonesia Open
January 18, 2026, New Delhi, New Delhi, India: IndonesiaÃââ s Jonatan Christie in action during the MenÃââ s Singles Final match against Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei at the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2026, part of the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 750, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India, on January 18, 2026. New Delhi India - ZUMAm184 20260118_zip_m184_017 Copyright: xAnkitxRoyxMajumderx
January 18, 2026, New Delhi, New Delhi, India: IndonesiaÃââ s Jonatan Christie in action during the MenÃââ s Singles Final match against Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei at the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2026, part of the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 750, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India, on January 18, 2026. New Delhi India - ZUMAm184 20260118_zip_m184_017 Copyright: xAnkitxRoyxMajumderx
The Polytron Indonesia Open 2026 is being held in Jakarta once again, and Indonesia’s very own Jonatan Christie is looking to reach his very first finals at the tournament. But before the matchups commenced on June 2, Christie had an earnest request to all fans of the sport.
The World No. 5 addressed the media during the pre-tournament press conference, per an X post from June 1 by GOODminton. Christie presented a sincere statement, requesting badminton fans to make an effort to come watch them play.
"We're playing at home, at Istora, I want to play there forever. So I hope the Badminton Lovers can come, attend, liven things up, and support us all, the athletes.”
Christie urged fans to support the sport and the venue he loves dearly. The Istora Gelora Bung Karno has been the home of the Indonesia Open for five years in a row now, starting from 2022.
According to a June 2025 report by Independent Observer, there was a decline in ticket sales last year at the Indonesia Open, with only 70 percent of the tickets selling before the event.
Organizing Committee chair Armand Darmaji then believed that the global interest in watching badminton was facing a steady decline.
“Badminton in Indonesia still needs more support,” he noted.
This is the sentiment that Christie is echoing, as he and Team Indonesia prepare for a hard-fought few days. He hopes that people will show up in throngs to support the Indonesian side.
While his performance at the Indonesia Open has not yielded any medals, he looks forward to winning his first medal of 2026, as well as his first Indonesia Open title, this week.
Jonatan Christie Hopes to End Medal Drought at the Indonesia Open
Christie has not had a great 2026, after he suffered a first-round exit at the 2026 Singapore Open at the hands of Indian player HS Prannoy. He came closest to a win this year in early January at the India Open, but was defeated by Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi.
The world no. 5 has also never won at his home event, the Indonesia Open. He came closest in 2021, when he reached the semi-finals but lost to Viktor Axelsen from Denmark in straight sets of 21-19, 21-15.
2025 saw him suffer an early exit in the Round of 16, where Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong defeated him in three games. The year prior, he exited even earlier, in the Round of 32 after a loss to Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao.
This year, Christie has made it past the first round after a decisive victory over Singapore’s Jason Teh in straight sets of 21-18, 21-15. He hopes to keep this momentum going into the Round of 16 on June 4, 2026.
Do you think Jonatan Christie will be able to secure his first home win at the 2026 Indonesia Open? Let us know in the comments.
