Origins & Early Life

Taufik Hidayat (born 10 August 1981) is an Indonesian retired badminton player who is the current Deputy Minister for Youth and Sport of Indonesia. He is a former World champion, Olympic gold medalist, two time Asian Games gold medalist, and three time Asian champion. He is a 6 time Indonesia Open winner. Known as 'Mr Backhand', he is considered one of the greats in men's singles badminton.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

When he was young, he joined the SGS club, a badminton club in Bandung, where he trained under Iie Sumirat. At age 17, he won the Brunei Open and reached the semifinals of the 1998 Asian Championships and the Indonesia Open. In 1999, Hidayat won his first Indonesian Open title. In the same year he also reached the final of the All England and the Singapore Open but lost the finals to his great rival, Peter Gade and his senior in the national team Hariyanto Arbi respectively. In 2000, Hidayat, at just 19 years old, achieved the world number one ranking after winning the Malaysia Open, Asian Championships, and Indonesia Open.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He also, once again, came runner-up at the All England Open as he was defeated by Chinese player, Xia Xuanze.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abigail Spencer — Contemporary (Born in 1981) (1981): American actress, producer, and writer known for roles in soap operas and dramas.
• Alicia Keys — Contemporary (Born in 1981) (1981): Award-winning pianist and vocalist known for her soulful R&B sound.
• Anwar Sadat — Contemporary (Died in 1981) (1981): Egyptian President who spearheaded economic reform and the peace treaty with Israel.
• Adah Isaacs Menken — Shared historical date (08-10 · Died) (1868): American actress, painter, and poet known for sensational stage performances.
• Antonio Banderas — Shared historical date (08-10 · Born) (1960): Esteemed Spanish actor celebrated for his versatility across film and stage.
• Ariel Durant — Historical peer (Died in 1981) (1981): Ukrainian-born American historian, coauthor of The Story of Civilization.
• Beyoncé — Historical peer (Born in 1981) (1981): Iconic artist known for vocal reinvention and cultural impact in modern music.
• Aitana Bonmatí — Historical peer (Born in 1998) (1998): Star Spanish midfielder known for her decorated career with Barcelona and the Spain national team.
• Akira Kurosawa — Historical peer (Died in 1998) (1998): Master of Japanese cinema, known for dynamic style and epic storytelling.
• Akio Morita — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• 1981 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1981
• August 10 (08-10) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 10