He enjoyed some international success with Vita Marissa, winning the SEA Games in 2001, the Asian Badminton Championships in 2003, and the Japan Open in 2004.

They have been runner up at the All England Championships twice, and probably the narrowest one was at 2010, beaten by future Olympic champion, Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei, 18-21 25-23 18–21 in an hour and 31 minutes, considered one of the best mixed doubles game that ever played.

Widianto has represented Indonesia in the Sudirman Cup (combined men's and women's world team championships) five times: 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009.

[4] He competed in badminton at the 2008 Summer Olympics as the 1st seed in the mixed doubles with partner Lilyana Natsir and reached the final by beating He Hanbin and Yu Yang in the semifinal with thrilling scores, 15–21 21–11 23–21.

He played with Candra Wijaya for a few months, preparing for Thomas Cup event and succeeded to be the runner up of Asian Badminton Championships, lost to Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong-dae in the final, 21–16 21–18.

His powerful smash and accurate placement on the court have been a crucial part of Nova's game to dominate the mixed doubles and being at the top level.

His mental strength and great spirit also become the decisive factor to win the game and somehow manage to be the other source of his power.