Anthony Ginting Falls in 2025 BWF World Championships

Anthony Ginting’s campaign at the 2025 BWF World Championships came to an unexpected end in the opening round. On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at Adidas Arena in Paris, the Indonesian men’s singles star, whose full name is Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, fell to local representative Toma Junior Popov in a grueling three-game battle that lasted 92 minutes. The final score was 18-21, 21-19, 23-25 (kalteng.antaranews.com).

A Tight Opening Round

The match began evenly, with both players displaying their strengths. In the first game, Popov managed to pull ahead after the interval at 11 points. Ginting admitted afterward that he was not fully prepared for Popov’s change in playing patterns, which led to several unforced errors that gave the Frenchman the edge (Okezone Sports).

In the second game, Ginting adapted well to Popov’s strategy, showing more control and better shot selection. His efforts paid off as he leveled the score by winning 21-19. However, the decisive third game turned into a dramatic battle, with both players exchanging points in a tense showdown.

Cramp Strikes at the End

At match point 20-19 in the third game, disaster struck for Ginting. He slipped and suffered a cramp in his left leg, which severely limited his movement on court. Despite his best efforts to fight on, Popov capitalized on the situation and eventually sealed the game 25-23, closing out the match in front of the home crowd.

Post-Match Reflections

After the match, Ginting explained that he had actually understood Popov’s patterns but admitted the Frenchman’s tactical changes after the first interval disrupted his rhythm. He emphasized that his physical issue in the deciding game was the key factor behind the loss.

“I tried to give my best and fought until the very end, but the cramp made it really hard to continue as I wanted,” Ginting said. Despite the defeat, he expressed optimism about recovering and preparing better for upcoming tournaments.

This marked the second time Ginting lost to Popov at the same venue, following his earlier defeat during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Still, the Indonesian ace remains determined to learn from the setback and improve for future challenges (Detik Sport).

Anthony Ginting’s early exit from the 2025 BWF World Championships serves as a tough but valuable lesson. His narrow defeat to Toma Junior Popov highlighted both tactical and physical challenges that need addressing. With proper evaluation and preparation, Ginting is expected to bounce back stronger in upcoming tournaments and continue to bring pride to Indonesian badminton fans (sportlinknews.com).