Sports

Radithya Bayu Wardhana Wins World Junior Boys' Singles Title

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 18, 2026•3 min read

Radithya Bayu Wardhana won the 2026 BWF World Junior boys' singles title, defeating Fardhan Rainanda Joe 15-9, 11-15, 15-8 in an all-Indonesian final in Cairo.

Key Facts

Pebulu tangkis tunggal putra Indonesia Radithya Bayu Wardhana (18) menjuarai Kejuaraan Dunia Junior BWF 2026.
Final digelar di Cairo International Stadium, Kairo, Mesir, Sabtu (17/10/2026) malam WIB.
Radithya mengalahkan rekan senegaranya Fardhan Rainanda Joe 15-9, 11-15, 15-8 lewat rubber game.
Ini final sesama Indonesia pertama dalam sejarah nomor tunggal putra Kejuaraan Dunia Junior.
Gelar kedua Indonesia di nomor tunggal putra setelah Alwi Farhan pada 2023.
Radithya debut di WJC 2026 dan langsung juara; ia binaan PB Djarum asal Tanjung Pinang.
Indonesia menyabet dua emas di Kairo: tunggal putra (Radithya) dan ganda campuran (Luthfi/Dian).

World Champion on Debut

Radithya Bayu Wardhana officially claimed the world junior boys' singles crown after defeating his compatriot, Fardhan Rainanda Joe, in the final of the 2026 BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Junior Championships at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday (17/10/2026) evening WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

The battle between the two Merah Putih (Red and White) representatives unfolded dramatically into a rubber game. Radithya won 15-9, 11-15, 15-8 and hoisted the Eye Level Cups trophy as the boys' singles champion.

The victory was particularly special as it was achieved on his debut appearance at the World Junior Championships. The 18-year-old athlete from Tanjung Pinang, nurtured by PB Djarum (Djarum Badminton Club), maintained composure throughout the tournament.

Match Summary

Radithya opened the first game aggressively. After the scores were level, he notched eight consecutive points to take an 11-3 lead before comfortably closing out the game 15-9.

Fardhan Joe mounted a comeback in the second game. Relying on tight defense interspersed with counterattacks, the athlete from Karawang turned the tables to seize the second game 15-11.

In the deciding game, Radithya appeared better prepared to dictate play. Despite seeing his lead narrow from 8-3 to 8-7, he regained control to seal an 15-8 victory. He admitted that he had anticipated a three-game battle, as his encounters with Joe often ended in rubber games.

Historic Final and Two Indonesian Golds

This all-Indonesian clash marked the first such final in the history of the boys' singles event at the World Junior Championships. Joe had advanced to the title match after eliminating the French top seed, Mady Sow, in the semifinals.

Radithya's title is the second for Indonesia in the boys' singles event, following Alwi Farhan's triumph in 2023. All individual matches in Cairo were contested under the 3x15 scoring system.

Indonesia concluded the 2026 World Junior Championships with two gold medals. Alongside Radithya, the mixed doubles pair Muhammad Luthfi Habibi/Dian Ramadhani Mukti also stepped atop the podium after overcoming Chinese opponents in the final.

Dedication to Family and Club

Radithya admitted it was still hard to believe he won the world junior title on his very first appearance.

"Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), I am grateful to be able to take part in the WJC (World Junior Championships) for the first time and immediately become champion," Bayu stated on Sunday (18/10/2026).

"I dedicate this title to my parents at home, my uncle, my extended family, and my club," he concluded.

He affirmed that he would not grow complacent. Upon joining pelatnas (national training center) later, he is determined to learn from senior players to bring honor to Indonesia at the senior level.