<![CDATA[This study aimed to analyze the role of intrinsic motivation in the mental readiness of adolescent badminton athletes. A correlational research design with a quantitative approach was employed, involving a sample of 50 athletes aged 11–17 from the Mutiara Cardinal Club in Bandung. Data on intrinsic motivation were collected using the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), while mental readiness was assessed via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and simple linear regression. The results revealed a significant relationship between intrinsic motivation and the athletes' level of psychological difficulties (r = -0.524; p = 0.000); this indicates that higher intrinsic motivation corresponds to lower levels of psychological difficulty—or, in other words, better mental readiness. Intrinsic motivation was found to contribute 27.5% to the athletes' mental readiness (R² = 0.275; F = 18.160; p = 0.000), while the remaining 72.5% was influenced by other factors such as coach support, parental support, and competitive experience. These findings support Self-Determination Theory and underscore the importance of fostering intrinsic motivation in the psychological development of adolescent badminton athletes. Keywords: Adolescents, Badminton Athletes, Intrinsic Motivation, Mental Readiness, Self-Determination Theory.]]>
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