TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian men's singles athlete Jonatan Christie has created the opportunity to win his first title of the season after advancing to the final of the India Open 2026. He eliminated Singaporean representative Loh Kean Yew in the semifinals held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
Jonatan won through a two-game battle with scores of 21-18, 22-20. In the first game, Jonatan faced pressure. A slow start put the Indonesian player behind at 5-13. Unforced errors in the backcourt made it difficult to develop his game. Additionally, Jonatan appeared to be adapting to the wind conditions in the arena.
Loh Kean Yew utilized the situation and displayed a performance in attacking and defending with few mistakes. Despite trailing 9-15, Jonatan remained calm. He found his rhythm through a variation of attacks and controlled returns. The point margin shifted, and Jonatan took the lead at 15-13.
The pressure moved to Loh Kean Yew. Jonatan's returns caused his opponent to lose consistency. Jonatan finally closed the first game with a 21-18 victory.
In the second game, the duel was balanced. Both players traded points until the middle of the game. Jonatan maintained a slight advantage and led 18-16 before Loh Kean Yew leveled the score to 19-19.
Tension rose when Jonatan seized match point 20-19 with play at the net. However, an error in the same area tied the score at 20-20. At the moment, Jonatan showed composure. A smash ensured a 22-20 victory and a ticket to the final.
Jonatan's celebration was delayed after Loh Kean Yew challenged the last point. After the challenge result confirmed the ball was in, Jonatan's victory was secured.
This result takes Jonatan Christie to the final match of the India Open 2026 and maintains Indonesia's hope to win the championship in the season's early tournament.
Jonatan expressed gratitude for reaching the final of the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament. "Thank God I made it to the final. It was beyond my expectations," Jonatan said in a written statement after the match. He considered Loh Kean Yew's performance strong, forcing a strategy adjustment mid-match.
According to Jonatan, the first game was critical. Despite playing in wind conditions, he overcame the pressure after falling behind. "Loh played quite aggressively, and I was a bit confused at times. After slowly discussing things with the team, I finally found my rhythm and was able to turn things around," he said.
In the second game, Jonatan faced a different challenge. The wind conditions forced him to find a way to maintain control. "I had to be extra resourceful to get out of that situation," said the third-seeded player.
Jonatan admitted his celebration after the match was an outpouring of relief. He believes the outcome could have been different had it gone to a third game. "If it had gone to a third game, the story might have been different," he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the Indonesian supporters at the event and the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi. "Thank you for your support and prayers. Please also support us in the final," said Jonatan.
Read: Jonatan Christie: Sole Indonesian in India Open 2026 Semifinals
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