Taufik Hidayat


Taufik Hidayat is a retired Indonesian badminton player. He was a former world number one, World Championships, Olympic champions, 2 times Asian Games, and three times Asian Championships in the men's singles. He won a tying-record six times Indonesia Open. Having started to win medals and gained success at a young age where he was still 17 years old to became the world No.1 ranking. Taufik’s career started achieving great heights with his style of used both forehand and backhand power, combined with his tenacity at the net and scope for deceptive shots, making him able to compete with other senior and top men's single player at that time as one of the most difficult players to face on the open circuit, and by many, considered to be one of the best men's single players of all time in badminton history.

Career summary

When he was young, he joined the SGS club, a badminton club in Bandung, where he trained under Iie Sumirat. Taufik then entered the world badminton stage in the young age. Succeeded won Brunei Open 1998 at the age of 17, he then reached the semifinals of both 1998 Asian Championships and Indonesia Open 1998.
In 1999, Taufik won his first of six Indonesian Open title where he beat his senior budi santoso 17–14, 15–12. He was highly praised after finishing as the runner up at the All England 1999 to the world no.1 and his then great rival Peter Gade in three set 15–11, 7–15, 15–10. He also reached Singapore Open final but lost to his senior in the national team Heryanto Arbi 15–13, 10–15, 11–15. Taufik participated for Indonesia in 1999 Southeast Asian Games where he succeeded won gold medal in both men's single and men's team. Through the years Taufik was briefly ranked world number 3 and had developed his style while being very straightforward, where he was master of making most out of his opponent’s mistake and winning rally after rally.
in 2000, Taufik won Malaysia Open after defeating Xia Xuanze from Chinese 15–10, 17–14, but in the next prestigious tournament All England Open 2000 taufik was got revenged by Xia Xuanze in the final after lost 6–15, 13–15 and once again in the second consecutive year he should be runner up in that event. In Asian Championships 2000 final Taufik succeeded won his first tittle over his teammates Rony Agustinus. he then success defend his second tittle in Indonesia Open 2000 final after defeating Malaysia's Ong Ewe Hock 15–5, 15–13. Taufik also help indonesia won fourth consecutive Thomas cup 2000. With all of these great achievement, Taufik succeeded achieved world number one ranking in 2000 when he was still 19 years old.
In 2001, Taufik got bronze medal after lost in semifinal World Championships 2001 to countrymen and eventual-winners Hendrawan. He won his only tittle in that year after winning 2001 Singapore Open over Wong Choong Hann from Malaysia.
In 2002, Taufik succeded won his first men's single gold medal at Asian Games 2002 after defeating korean player Lee Hyun-il 15–7, 15–9. he also won Chinese Taipei Open and his third Indonesia Open. In Asian Championships 2002 final, Taufik lost to compatriot Sony Dwi Kuncoro in straight set 12–15, 5–15.
In 2004, Taufik won the men's singles gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics defeated Hidetaka Yamada of Japan and Wong Choong Hann of Malaysia in the first two rounds. Taufik defeated Peter Gade of Denmark 15–12, 15–12 in the quarter final and Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 15–9, 15–2 in the semifinal. Playing in the gold medal match. He defeated Korean Shon Seung-mo 15–8, 15–7 in the final to win the gold medal. In the same year, Taufik also success won his fifth Indonesia Open title over Chen Hong 15–9, 15–3 in the final and won his second Asian Championships title after defeating his teammate Sony Dwi Kuncoro. in the same year he was the awarded of “Eddy Choong Player of the Year" award.
In August 2005, he won the men's singles title at the World Championships after defeating world no.1 Lin Dan of China 15–3, 15–7 in the final. With this title, he became the first men's single player to hold the Olympic and World Championships title in consecutive years.
in 2006, Taufik won his last Indonesia Open tittle after beating Bao Chunlai 21–18, 21–17. he then captured his second men's singles gold medal at Asian Games 2006 by defeated his great rival Lin Dan in straight set 21–15, 22–20. But he was got revenged by Lin Dan in the Japan Open final after lost 21–16, 16–21, 3–21.
In 2007, Taufik won the 2007 Asian Championship over Chinese player Chen Hong 21–18, 21–19. He got gold medals in both men's singles and men's team at the Southeast Asian Games 2007. in that year, he also reached finals of several tournament such as Chinese Taipei Open, Macau Open, and Japan Open but finished as the runner up at all.
in 2009, Taufik won India Open and U.S. Open. he also finished as the runner up at Indonesia Open 2009, Japan Open 2009, French Open 2009 after defeating by Lee Chong Wei, Bao Chunlai, Lin Dan respectively, and reached semifinal of All England Open 2009. he then got bronze medal in BWF World Championships 2009. In the end of the year, he was rangked world no.3.
in 2010, Taufik won French Open 2010, Canada Open, and Indonesia Masters. he then runner up in his second consecutive Indonesia Open, Denmark Open, Hong Kong Open. He made a big upset by Lost to Chen Jin straight set in his second final of World Championships in BWF World Championships 2010. for his achievement, Taufik briefly rangking world number 2 at the end of the year behind Lee Chong Wei.
Popular media has at times focused on the perceived rivalry between Taufik and Chinese player Lin Dan, referring to the two as "arch rivals".
In November 2012, Taufik built a badminton training center named Taufik Hidayat Arena, located at Ciracas, East Jakarta. This "house of badminton" is both named and owned by Taufik.

Personal life

He married the daughter of Agum Gumelar, Ami Gumelar, on 4 February 2006. They had a daughter in early August 2008, named Natarina Alika Hidayat. She was born shortly before he had to leave for the World Championships.

Player attributes

Hidayat's shot-making strengths were his backhand, forehand jump smash, drop shot, smooth footwork and deceiving net play. Hidayat's forehand jump smash in the 2006 World Championships was once the fastest smash recorded in singles competition: he recorded in a match against Ng Wei. This power on both his forehand and backhand, combined with his tenacity at the net and scope for deceptive shots, provided him with an extremely diverse weaponry on court, making him one of the most difficult players to face on the open circuit. Criticisms were aimed at his occasional lack of fitness, impatience with loud crowds, and his propensity to return a net shot with another net shot even when his opponent was dangerously close to the net.

Participation in the Indonesian team

Olympic Games

For the fourth time, Taufik participated in the Summer Olympics. Hidayat competed in badminton at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's singles but he was eliminated in the round of 16 by Lin Dan.
RoundOpponentScoreResult
Group Stage Petr Koukal21–8, 21–8Win
Group Stage Pablo Abián22–20, 21–11Win
Round of 16 Lin Dan9–21, 12–21Lost

Hidayat competed in badminton at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's singles but he was eliminated in the second round.
RoundOpponentScoreResult
First round--Bye
Second round Wong Choong Hann19–21, 16–21Lost

Hidayat competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's singles and won the gold medal.
Hidayat participated in the men's singles competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. In his first Olympics, he was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Ji Xinpeng.
RoundOpponentScoreResult
Round of 64––Bye
Round of 32 Hidetaka Yamada15–5, 14–17, 15–8Win
Round of 16 Ong Ewe Hock15–9, 13–15, 15–3Win
Quarterfinals Ji Xinpeng 12–15, 5–15Lost

World Championships

Asian Games

Asian Championships

Southeast Asian Games

BWF Superseries

The BWF Superseries, launched on December 14, 2006 and implemented in 2007, is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation. BWF Superseries has two level such as Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries features twelve tournaments around the world, which introduced since 2011, with successful players invited to the BWF Superseries Finals held at the year end.
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
2011Malaysia Open Lee Chong Wei8–21, 17–21 Runner-up
2010Hong Kong Open Lee Chong Wei19–21, 9–21 Runner-up
2010French Open Joachim Persson21–16, 21–11 Champion
2010Denmark Open Jan Ø. Jørgensen19–21, 19–21 Runner-up
2010Indonesia Open Lee Chong Wei19–21, 8–21 Runner-up
2009French Open Lin Dan6–21, 15–21 Runner-up
2009Japan Open Bao Chunlai15–21, 12–21 Runner-up
2009Indonesia Open Lee Chong Wei9–21, 14–21 Runner-up
2008French Open Peter Gade21–16, 17–21, 7–21 Runner-up
2007Japan Open Lee Chong Wei20–22, 21–19, 19–21 Runner-up

BWF Grand Prix

The BWF Grand Prix has two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It is a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation since 2007. The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation since 1983.
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
2011Syed Modi International Sourabh Varma21–15, 21–18 Champion
2011Canada Open Marc Zwiebler13–21, 23–25 Runner-up
2010Indonesia Masters Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka26–28, 21–17, 21–14 Champion
2010Canada Open Brice Leverdez21–15, 21–11 Champion
2009U.S. Open Hsueh Hsuan-Yi21–15, 21–16 Champion
2009India Open Muhammad Hafiz Hashim21–18, 21–19 Champion
2008Macau Open Lee Chong Wei21–19, 21–15 Champion
2007Macau Open Chen Jin21–19, 17–21, 18–21 Runner-up
2007Chinese Taipei Open Sony Dwi Kuncoro21–18, 6–21, 13–21 Runner-up
2006Japan Open Lin Dan21–16, 16–21, 3–21 Runner-up
2006Indonesia Open Bao Chunlai21–18, 21–17 Champion
2005Singapore Open Chen Hong15–9, 15–3 Champion
2004Indonesia Open Chen Hong15–10, 15–11 Champion
2003Indonesia Open Chen Hong15–9, 15–9 Champion
2002Chinese Taipei Open Agus Hariyanto15–10, 15–8 Champion
2002Indonesia Open Chen Hong15–12, 15–12 Champion
2001Singapore Open Wong Choong Hann7–5, 0–7, 7–1, 1–7, 7–4 Champion
2000Indonesia Open Ong Ewe Hock15–5, 15–13 Champion
2000All England Open Xia Xuanze6–15, 13–15 Runner-up
2000Malaysia Open Xia Xuanze15–10, 17–14 Champion
1999Singapore Open Heryanto Arbi15–13, 10–15, 11–15 Runner-up
1999Indonesia Open Budi Santoso17–14, 15–12 Champion
1999All England Open Peter Gade11–15, 15–7, 10–15 Runner-up
1998Brunei Open Dong Jiong12–15, 15–3, 15–9 Champion

Performance timeline

Indonesian team

Team Events1997
Asia Junior Championships Silver

Team Events1999200520072011
Southeast Asian Games Gold Silver Gold Gold

Team Events200020022004200620082010
Thomas Cup Gold Gold Bronze Bronze Bronze Silver

Individual competitions

Event1997
Asia Junior Championships Gold

Event199920072011
Southeast Asian Games Gold Gold Bronze

Event1998200220062010
Asian GamesQF Gold GoldQF

Event2000200420082012
OlympicsQF GoldR32R16

Record against selected opponents

Record against Super Series finalists, World Championships semifinalists, Olympic quarterfinalists, and all Olympic opponents.