An annual badminton championship in regional Victoria draws players from across nationalities and gives the Indonesian diaspora a space to stay connected through sport.
Around ninety people gathered at a badminton court in Bendigo, a regional city in Victoria, on Saturday, 11 July 2026, for the Konjen Cup badminton championship. About sixty of them were players, while the rest came to watch.
The community tournament is now in its seventh year, though the Konjen Cup format was introduced for the first time. Marthin Nanere, the head organiser, said the cup was initiated by the Indonesian Consul General in Melbourne and pits a Melbourne team against regional Victorian teams across nine matches. The regional side won narrowly, five to four.
Alongside the Konjen Cup, the tournament also held open knockout matches divided into two categories: competitive and social. The social category, Nanere said, was designed for those who wanted a more relaxed game while still having a chance to take home a prize.
The field was diverse. Players from Singapore, India, Vietnam, and Malaysia who live around Bendigo competed alongside Indonesian nationals. The Mayor of Bendigo attended, delivered an opening address, and played an informal match against the Consul General.
The championship also formed part of celebrations marking Indonesia's 81st Independence Day.
But for Nanere, the event's greatest value lies beyond trophies and scores. More than a hundred Indonesian working holiday visa holders live and work in Bendigo, he said, and the local badminton club, which runs four times a week, has become one of their main social outlets. Doctors, paramedics, and aged care workers come after their shifts to play and unwind.
Beyond the competition itself, Nanere said badminton plays an important role in the physical and mental wellbeing of the community in Bendigo. The sport keeps people fit regardless of age, he said, while also giving workers a space to release pressure and step away from the demands of daily work life.
Nanere described sport as a language that does not need to be learnt. The oldest player at their club is eighty-six and still plays actively every week.
Looking ahead, Nanere said he hopes the championship will continue to alternate between Bendigo and Melbourne each year.
Listen to the full podcast for complete conversation with Marthin Nanere.
