[Saba Sports News] In the 2026 Thomas Cup group stage, Indonesia, a traditional powerhouse with 14 Thomas Cup titles to its name, suffered a shocking 1–4 defeat to France and was eliminated straight from the group stage. Statistics show that this marks the first time Indonesia has failed to advance to the quarter-finals since it first took part in the Thomas Cup back in 1958.
Following the early exit from the Thomas Cup, Taufik Hidayat, currently Deputy Minister of Indonesia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, took to social media to issue an apology to fans. Taufik stated that although the results fell short of everyone’s expectations, he appreciated the hard work put in by the men’s team players. He added that this painful setback will serve as motivation. The entire team will conduct a full comprehensive review from start to finish, and vowed to deliver better results in the future. He also remarked that both praise from the public and criticisms directed at the management, coaches and players will fuel their progress moving forward.
Meanwhile, he congratulated the Indonesian women’s team on claiming the bronze medal at the Uber Cup, an achievement earned through relentless dedication, tenacious fighting spirit and selfless commitment from every team member.
In the editor’s opinion, by stepping forward to apologize in his dual capacity as a badminton legend and government official, Taufik Hidayat has taken the initiative to assume responsibility. A thorough internal review is set to begin soon. It remains to be seen whether the former badminton great can bring tangible changes to Indonesian badminton, and whether this once-dominant powerhouse can reclaim its place among the world’s elite — all will depend on their upcoming moves and actions.