Taufik Hidayat

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.

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 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 ranked world number 3 and had developed his style which while being very straightforward, was deadly for opponents. 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 that 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 player 15–5, 15–13. Taufik also help indonesia won fourth consecutive Thomas cup 2000. With all these 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 Hendrawan. He won his only tittle in that year after winning 2001 Singapore Open over malaysia player.

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 plyaer 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 achievment, 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".[1][2][3]

In November 2012, Taufik built a badminton training center named Taufik Hidayat Arena (THA), located at Ciracas, East Jakarta. This "house of badminton" is both named and owned by Taufik.[4]

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.[5]

Hidayat's shot-making strengths were his backhand (as he is perhaps most famous for his backhand smash, revered for its unusually high generation of power), forehand jump smash, drop shot (reverse slice in particular), 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 305 km/h (190 mph) in a match against Ng Wei.[6] 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.

• 5 times at Sudirman Cup (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007)
• 7 times at Thomas Cup (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010,2012)
• 4 times at Summer Olympics at individual event (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)

Record against Super Series finalists, World Championships semifinalists, Olympic quarterfinalists, and all Olympic opponents.[10][11]

• Taufik Hidayat, #48 on Time’s list of "100 Olympic Athletes To Watch"
• Taufik Hidayat at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
• Taufik Hidayat at the International Olympic Committee
• Taufik Hidayat at BWF.tournamentsoftware.com