The KAPAL API Indonesia Open 2025 will be remembered as one of the most iconic editions in the event’s rich history. It was a week of breakthrough victories, emotional comebacks, and world-class badminton that thrilled fans at the legendary Istora Senayan Stadium in Jakarta.
History for France: Gicquel and Delrue Make Super 1000 Magic
One of the biggest moments for France came when Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue captured the Indonesia Open 2025 title, marking their nation’s first-ever BWF Super 1000 championship. Their victory over Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran was both commanding and historic.
The match ended in dramatic fashion when Gicquel’s final shot landed just inside the sideline, and the Thais, out of challenges, could only watch as history unfolded. Gicquel embraced Delrue in celebration, knowing they had achieved something no French pair had done before.
It was a remarkable turnaround considering their shaky start in the opening round, where they narrowly escaped defeat against Indonesia’s Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja. From there, they grew stronger, executing a flawless tactical plan in the final.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Gicquel. “We never thought we’d get this far after the first round. It’s crazy — one of our goals was to win a big tournament this year, and all the hard work paid off.”
Delrue shone at the net, intercepting nearly everything that came her way, while Gicquel’s sharp variations in attack kept their Thai opponents on the back foot. Even Puavaranukroh acknowledged their brilliance:
“They played faster than us. They kept the shuttle down all the time,” he said.
For Delrue, this win was about more than just the trophy. “We’re so happy to make badminton more popular in France with this win,” she said. “I wanted to be the first to win a big tournament — and that’s done.”
An Se Young: A Week to Remember in Jakarta
For An Se Young, the Olympic champion from Korea, Indonesia Open 2025 was a test of self-belief and resilience. Despite struggling with confidence early in the week, she ended the tournament with her third Super 1000 title of the year, showcasing the grit that has made her a global star.
Feeling uncharacteristically uneasy in her opening matches, An admitted, “I don’t know why I’m not confident on court. I was overthinking everything.” Yet as the week progressed, she fought her way back to form, taking down Akane Yamaguchi in the semifinals after a tense battle.
The final against Wang Zhi Yi looked grim when An trailed by a game and 9–17, but she mounted an incredible comeback, winning 12 of the next 14 points to turn the match around. “It was a really difficult game,” she said. “I was frustrated, but I believed in myself bit by bit. This tournament taught me a lot about who I am.”
Other Highlights of Indonesia Open 2025
• Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae claimed their third Super 1000 title of the year, defeating Indonesian pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 18–21, 21–19, 21–12.
• Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan came close to their first Super 1000 title but were edged out by China’s Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning 23–25, 21–12, 21–19.
• Anders Antonsen avenged his 2019 loss to Chou Tien Chen, securing a solid 22–20, 21–14 victory in the men’s singles final.
Jakarta Delivers Another World-Class Show
With its electric atmosphere, roaring fans, and elite-level matches, Indonesia Open 2025 reaffirmed its status as one of the premier badminton tournaments on the BWF World Tour Super 1000 calendar. From historic French triumphs to Korean resilience and local heroics, the tournament once again showed why Jakarta remains the beating heart of world badminton.
