WhereIsAtlas · Sport
Taufik Hidayat
The Indonesian badminton legend who won Olympic gold in 2004 and retired as one of the game's greats
Active — Retired from international badminton in 2013; now an icon of the sport — 2004 Olympic gold medallist and 2005 world champion, still active as a mentor and ambassador for the game.
Taufik Hidayat was born in 1981 in Bandung, Indonesia, and was groomed from a young age as one of the most gifted badminton talents his country ever produced. He rose quickly through the junior ranks and into the senior international circuit, where his exquisite racket skill, deceptive drop shots and habit of playing his best on the biggest stages made him a global star.
His crowning moment came at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he beat the top seed to win the men's singles gold medal — a result that made him an instant national hero in Indonesia. A year later he added the 2005 world championship title, cementing a reputation as one of the few players of his era who could win the biggest tournaments on pure talent. He also had a famous rivalry with China's Lin Dan, one of the most celebrated in the sport's history.
Taufik retired from international play in June 2013 after a farewell tour through his home country. He is remembered not just for the medals but for the artistry and risk he brought to the court — a player who could make the impossible shot look routine.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1981, Bandung, Indonesia
- Olympic gold
- Athens 2004 (men's singles)
- World champion
- 2005
- Rivalry
- Lin Dan (China)
- Retired
- June 2013
- Known for
- Flashy, high-risk, artistic play
Sources
- Taufik Hidayat - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-04)
- The nation thanks retiring Taufik — The Jakarta Post (2026-09-04)
- Taufik Hidayat bids farewell to badminton fans — China Daily (2026-09-04)
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