Taufik Hidayat may be the most prestigious name to play in the Indian Badminton league but the 2004 Olympic gold medalist don’t want people to “expect much” from him since he has retired from international badminton.
The Indonesian, one of the craftiest shuttlers to have held the badminton racquet ever, announced retirement after the Indonesian Open earlier this year but agreed to play in the IBl. He was bought by Hyderabad Hotshots, which also bought Saina Nehwal, for $15,000 during the auctions.
“We have good players like Saina and Ajay (Jayaram). But don’t expect much from me, you know, I have already retired after the Indonesian Open. I didn’t train much after the retirement and last month I was fasting (for Ramzan),” Hidayat said.
“But I have come here. I hope it can work as motivation for the local players,” he added.
Indeed, his presence would definitely inspire youngsters who have grown up watching him prowl on the court and winning 27 titles in his career spanning 15 years - a journey which saw him winning gold in 2004 Athens Olympics, a World Championship (2005), two Asian Games gold (2002, 2006), two Thomas Cups (team championships 2000 and 2002) and three Asian Championships (2000, 2004, 2007).
Hidayat is a popular figure in India as well which was evident during the Indian Open last year.
“Yea, last year during Indian Open, lots of people cheered for me and I was like wow but now I have no idea (about myself) so don’t expect much when I play,” he reiterated perhaps fearing that he might disappoint his fans.
But what does he think about the IBl, the richest league in the world. “I think it’s good for the Indian badminton. It’s good for the young local players,” he said.
He has played all over the world and participated in the Chinese league too, which he thinks gives more time to players to recover. “I play in China league. China league is like Sudhirman Cup — men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. It’s a different league like one week, one game and here we are playing every third day,” Hidayat said.
He may have retired but he still keeps an eye on the badminton world. He admitted that he watched PV Sindhu playing in the World Championships where she won the bronze medal but rued that he couldn’t watch her semifinal against Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand as broadcasters were busy in showing other match.
“Yea (I saw her), but not in the semifinal against Ratchanok (Intanon) which she lost. In my television it wasn’t live. It was showing some other match. We have two courts there, right,” he said.