Indonesia's Badminton Legends: Heroes of the Court

 

Indonesia is a powerhouse in the world of badminton. From the golden era of the 1970s to the modern champions of today, Indonesian players have carved their names in history through their skill, grit, and legendary performances on the global stage. Here’s a look at some of the most iconic names in Indonesian badminton history.

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1. Rudy Hartono – The King of All England

• Active Years: 1960s – 1980s

• Specialty: Men’s Singles

• Major Achievements:

  • 8x All England Champion (including 7 consecutive wins from 1968 to 1974)

  • IBF World Champion (1980)

Rudy Hartono is a badminton icon. His elegant style, lightning footwork, and unmatched consistency made him the undisputed king of the All England Championships. Even today, his record remains one of the most respected in badminton history.

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2. Liem Swie King – The Jump Smash Pioneer

• Active Years: 1970s – 1980s

• Specialty: Men’s Singles

• Major Achievements:

  • All England Champion (1978, 1979, 1981)

  • Thomas Cup winner with Indonesia

Liem Swie King brought power and excitement to the game with his signature jump smash, a technique that revolutionized modern badminton. His aggressive playstyle inspired players around the world and elevated the sport’s popularity.

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3. Susi Susanti – Indonesia’s Golden Girl

• Active Years: 1990s

• Specialty: Women’s Singles

• Major Achievements:

  • Gold Medal – 1992 Barcelona Olympics (Indonesia’s first Olympic gold)

  • IBF World Champion (1993)

  • All England Champion (1990, 1991, 1993, 1994)

Susi Susanti is more than a champion — she's a national icon. Known for her calm demeanor and strategic game, she brought glory to Indonesia and paved the way for future generations of female athletes. She’s also the wife of fellow Olympic gold medalist Alan Budikusuma.

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4. Taufik Hidayat – The Backhand Maestro

• Active Years: 2000s

• Specialty: Men’s Singles

• Major Achievements:

  • Gold Medal – 2004 Athens Olympics

  • World Champion (2005)

  • Asian Games & Thomas Cup Champion

Known for his legendary backhand smash, Taufik Hidayat combined natural talent with flair and precision. Many fans and experts consider him one of the most talented players ever to grace the court.

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5. Hendra Setiawan & Mohammad Ahsan – The Daddies

• Active Years: 2000s – Present

• Specialty: Men’s Doubles

• Major Achievements:

  • 3x World Champions (2013, 2015, 2019)

  • Asian Games Gold Medalists (2014)

  • All England & BWF World Tour winners

Nicknamed “The Daddies” due to their senior status and fatherly charm, Hendra and Ahsan are known for their calm, tactical gameplay and incredible teamwork. Despite their age, they remain strong contenders in international tournaments.

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Legacy Beyond Trophies

These legends are more than just champions — they are role models who have brought pride to their country and elevated the sport of badminton globally. Their stories continue to inspire millions of young players in Indonesia and beyond.

Indonesia doesn’t just play badminton — Indonesia breathes badminton.

Badminton: The Fastest Racket Sport You Need to Know About

 

When it comes to racket sports, most people think of tennis or table tennis. But did you know that badminton is officially recognized as the fastest racket sport in the world? With shuttle speeds reaching over 400 km/h, it’s a game of lightning reflexes, intense stamina, and incredible skill.

A Brief History of Badminton

Badminton traces its roots back to ancient games played in India and Greece, but the modern version we know today was developed in British India during the 19th century. It quickly spread to England and later became a global sport. Today, badminton is especially popular in Asia, with countries like Indonesia, China, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan dominating the world stage.

Why Badminton is Gaining Global Popularity

• High Intensity, Low Injury Risk: Unlike many contact sports, badminton is a great full-body workout that’s also relatively safe for players of all ages.

• Accessible and Affordable: All you need is a racket, a shuttlecock, and a court. It's a sport that can be played casually in the park or competitively in a stadium.

• Olympic Prestige: Since becoming an official Olympic sport in 1992, badminton has captured the attention of global audiences.

Legends of the Game

Some of the sport's most iconic names include:

• Lin Dan (China) – Often considered the greatest singles player in history.

• Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) – A crowd favorite known for his elegant play and never-give-up attitude.

• Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia) – Olympic gold medalist and a master of the backhand smash.

These athletes have helped put badminton on the map, inspiring millions of fans around the world.

Indonesia: A Powerhouse in Badminton

Indonesia has a proud legacy in badminton. From doubles specialists like Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo & Marcus Gideon to legends like Rudy Hartono, Indonesia continues to produce top-tier talent. The sport is deeply rooted in Indonesian culture and has brought the country multiple Olympic medals and Thomas Cup victories.

The Thrill of Watching a Match

Unlike many sports that can feel slow at times, badminton delivers non-stop action. Rallies are fast and furious, requiring peak concentration from both players and viewers. Every shot — whether a drop, smash, or clear — carries high tension and strategy.

If you've never watched a high-level badminton match before, start with the finals of the All England Open or BWF World Championships — you’ll be hooked.

Conclusion

Badminton isn’t just a backyard game — it’s a sport of precision, power, and passion. Whether you're a new fan or a seasoned follower, there’s always something exciting in every match. So the next time someone mentions racket sports, don’t forget to give badminton the spotlight it deserves.

Alwi Farhan's Profile: Badminton Men's Single Superior Seed

Alwi Farhan Alhasny (born 12 May 2005) is an Indonesian badminton player.[1] He was part of the Indonesia men's team squad that won gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games.[2] He won the boys' singles title at the 2023 World Junior Championships.[3]

Careers

2022

In June, Alwi finished as finalist in the Lithuanian International.[4] Alwi was member of Indonesia squad that won bronze medal in the BWF World Junior Championships.[5] In the individual event, he lost in the second round to Thai player Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul.[6]

2023

In April, Alwi reached the final of the Osaka International, but was defeated by host player Yushi Tanaka.[7] In May, Alwi competed at the 2023 SEA Games, and won the gold medal in the men's team event.[2] In July, Alwi competed at the Asia Junior Championships mixed team event, and earned the silver medal after the Indonesian team lost in the final against Japan.[8] In individual event, he earned the bronze medal after losing the semi-finals match to 3rd seed Chinese player Hu Zhean.[9]

In September, Alwi won his first title in the final of Indonesia International tournament in Medan from Sri Lankan player Viren Nettasinghe in straight games.[10] In the next tour, he lost at the first round of Indonesia Masters Super 100 I to Malaysian player Aidil Sholeh.[11]

Akane Yamaguchi Comeback, World Badminton Queen's Most Difficult Enemy in Action Today

Japanese women's singles and the fiercest enemy of the world badminton queen, Akane Yamaguchi, has finally returned to the competition arena after being absent for several months due to injury.

Yamaguchi has announced his comeback to competition after being absent for several months due to an injury he suffered in September 2023.

The world number three in women's singles suffered an ankle injury while playing for Japan in the team event at the 2022 Asian Games.

As a result, Yamaguchi focused on recovery and missed several BWF competition series.

Including the home series at the 2023 Kumamoto Masters and the season-ending tournament BWF World Tour Finals 2023.

But now, good news has emerged about the 25 year old player.

Yamaguchi will return to the field.

He will compete in the national championship in Japan, the All Japan Championship 2023.

5 Stages of Basic Badminton Training for Beginners

 Badminton is a sport that often makes Indonesia famous on the international stage. Therefore, this sport is very popular among Indonesian people.

However, if played live, the sport is considered difficult to do. In order to play it well, you need practice from a basic level.

How was the training? To find out the answer, look at the following basic badminton training stages for beginners:

1. Grip with your thumb in the middle of the grip

The first and most basic thing in badminton is the grip position of the racket grip pad.

Badminton is a sport that relies heavily on the wrist. Therefore, grip position will affect the quality of the shot. In order to get a good grip, you must first position your thumb in the middle of the grip. Next, you adjust the position of your palm as comfortably as possible without changing the position of your thumb. If you don't have a racket, you can practice when holding a broom.

2. Practice hitting by throwing the shuttlecock

Often when beginners play badminton, the shuttlecock they are going to hit doesn't hit the racket. To overcome this, you have to practice hitting by throwing the shuttlecock. In this exercise you have to ask someone to throw the shuttlecock.

When the shuttlecock comes, make sure the racket is in the right position. At first, this exercise will seem difficult, but if you do it as often as possible you will be able to hit the shuttlecock correctly.

3. Practice hitting with the shuttlecock hanging

Exercises can be an alternative or continuation of the exercises in the previous point. This method is fairly easy, you just need to make the shuttlecock hang. You can hang the shuttlecock with a rope on a tree branch or iron pole. Then you adjust the length of the string to the reach of the racket. You can do punch training 10 times in 1 set or adjust as desired.

4. Against the wall

If you have started hitting the shuttlecock smoothly and precisely. You can improve your skills by practicing against a wall. How to? You just hit the shuttlecock towards the wall, the shuttlecock will automatically bounce towards you. Then you continue punching continuously, so that it seems like you are fighting a wall.

This exercise is effective for improving the quality of the shot and also the agility of the feet to catch the ball.

5. Practice test

After passing the four training stages above, then you can try it out with someone who has good badminton skills. This needs to be done so that you get used to hitting the shuttlecock from a real opponent. Practice this test as often as possible so that the quality of your shots continues to improve and you can play in real matches.

These are the five stages of basic badminton training for beginners. After the basic stage, advanced badminton training will be related to foot agility and stamina.