[Saba Sports News] The 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup officially kicks off. Indonesian star Anthony Sinisuka Ginting makes his comeback after a two-month absence, having fully recovered from shoulder and back injuries. Currently, Indonesia is in the final stretch of its Thomas Cup title challenge, striving to lift the trophy once again, yet Ginting’s standing within the team has become highly delicate. He used to serve as Indonesia’s first or second singles player. This season, however, he has slipped to fourth in the team pecking order, behind Jonatan Christie, Alwi Farhan and Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah. The top three singles players have been in blistering form lately. In contrast, Ginting has only competed in three tournaments this season, leaving his spot in the Thomas Cup lineup hanging in the balance.
Even so, Ginting is highly confident in his physical fitness and competitive form. He stated in an interview that he is in top condition and has made a complete recovery from his injuries. Though he has maintained a limited competition schedule over the past year, his wealth of experience in major tournaments serves as his greatest strength.
In the knockout stage of the Thomas Cup, the third singles player is often tasked with crucial decider points. Rather than raw on-the-day form, this role demands exceptional pressure resistance and mental fortitude — qualities Ginting has been specifically training for. Undoubtedly, having fallen to fourth place in the team rankings, Ginting has unexpectedly turned into Indonesia’s secret weapon.
In my opinion, in the Thomas Cup, many factors remain uncontrollable, such as teammates’ fluctuating on-court pressure, daily dips and spikes in personal form, as well as the opponents’ line-up tactics. Only by constantly honing mental resilience and avoiding overthinking can players prepare for the worst-case scenario, and stay composed when competing under high-stakes pressure.