Hendrawan
Hendrawan (born 27 June 1972) is an Indonesian badminton coach and former professional player, best known for securing the silver medal in men's singles at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the gold medal in men's singles at the 2001 BWF World Championships in Seville.[1][2] Born in Malang, East Java, into a family passionate about badminton, he began playing at age seven under his father's guidance and rose through Indonesia's national training system at the Cipayung center.[1] As a player, Hendrawan stood at 170 cm and weighed 68 kg, contributing significantly to Indonesia's dominance in international team events, including decisive singles victories in the Thomas Cup finals of 1998, 2000, and 2002, helping secure three consecutive titles for his country.[1][3] His Olympic final loss to China's Ji Xinpeng (4-15, 13-15) motivated his subsequent World Championship triumph, where he defeated Denmark's Peter Gade (15-6, 17-16) in the final.[4][2] Transitioning to coaching after retiring from competitive play, Hendrawan initially served as a national coach for Indonesia's women's and then men's singles teams before joining the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in May 2009 as the men's singles head coach.[5] In Malaysia, he played a pivotal role in developing elite talent, most notably guiding Lee Chong Wei to silver medals at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, along with multiple world championship medals and BWF Super Series Masters Finals titles.[6] He also mentored younger players such as Ng Tze Yong and Lee Zii Jia, the latter of whom achieved a career-high world number two ranking in 2022 and secured bronze at the 2023 All England Open while under his coaching.[7][8] After nearly 15 years with BAM, Hendrawan departed on 31 October 2024, returning to Indonesia to coach at PB Djarum, one of the country's premier badminton clubs.[9][10] Throughout his dual roles, he has emphasized not only technical skills but also character development and mental resilience in his athletes.[11]Early life
Childhood and family background
Hendrawan was born on June 27, 1972, in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, into an ethnic Chinese family. His parents, both of whom held Indonesian citizenship, originated from the region and fostered an environment immersed in badminton from an early age.[1][12] Growing up in this badminton-loving household, Hendrawan began playing the sport at the age of seven, with his father serving as his initial coach and guide. This early exposure laid the foundation for his development, though he did not join the national training center until the relatively late age of 21, which was considered advanced for aspiring elite shuttlers in Indonesia.[13][11] As a member of the Chinese-Indonesian community, Hendrawan faced systemic challenges related to citizenship verification, a legacy of discriminatory policies affecting ethnic minorities; despite his parents' status, he only obtained his Republic of Indonesia Citizenship Certificate (SBKRI) in 2002 after presidential intervention. This background underscored the broader socio-political hurdles encountered by many in his family and community during his formative years.[14]Introduction to badminton
Hendrawan was introduced to badminton during his childhood in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, where he was born on 27 June 1972. Growing up in a family passionate about the sport, he began playing at the age of seven, with his father acting as his initial coach and guiding his early development.[13] His initial experiences involved informal play on local fields, where he mimicked the techniques of prominent Indonesian national players he observed on television. This self-motivated practice helped cultivate his fundamental skills and enthusiasm for the game. At age 20, watching the 1992 Barcelona Olympics—badminton's debut as an official event—further ignited his ambition, as he was inspired by compatriots Alan Budi Kusuma and Susi Susanti securing gold medals in men's and women's singles, respectively, fueling his dream of Olympic success.[13] Hendrawan's talent quickly emerged through participation in a local club, where he achieved victories in regional competitions, showcasing his potential as a competitive player. These accomplishments led to his selection for the PBSI National Training Center in Cipayung, Jakarta, at age 21, marking the transition from recreational play to structured professional training. Notably, this was later than the typical entry age of 17 or 18 for most shuttlers, yet this delayed start did not hinder his rise in the sport.[4]Playing career
Entry into national team and early competitions
Hendrawan joined the Indonesian national badminton team in 1993 at the age of 21, a relatively late entry compared to most elite players who typically begin national training in their teens.[15] This marked the start of his international career, where he quickly demonstrated potential despite initial challenges in competing against established Indonesian stars like Hariyanto Arbi and Joko Suprianto.[11] In his debut international season of 1993, Hendrawan achieved significant early success by winning the French Open men's singles title, defeating Denmark's Søren B. Nielsen 15–9, 13–18, 15–11 in the final.[16] He also reached the semi-finals at the Polish Open and quarter-finals at the Amor International, showcasing his aggressive playing style and front-court deception that would become hallmarks of his game.[16] These results helped him gain recognition, though he often exited early in higher-profile events like the Malaysia Open (second round) and Indonesia Open (third round), reflecting the depth of competition within Indonesia's dominant singles squad.[16] Throughout the mid-1990s, Hendrawan continued to build his experience in Grand Prix tournaments, reaching the final of the 1995 Swiss Open where he fell to Sweden's Jens Olsson 9–15, 9–15. His consistent performances earned him a spot in major team events, including contributing to Indonesia's Thomas Cup victory in 1998, where he won all his championship-round singles matches.[1] At the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, he secured a gold medal in the team event and a silver in men's singles, losing the final to China's Dong Jiong.[1] These achievements solidified his position in the national setup ahead of his Olympic breakthrough. By 2000, Hendrawan faced intense internal selection pressure for the Sydney Olympics, competing against teammates Taufik Hidayat, Marleve Mainaky, Hariyanto Arbi, and Budi Santoso for one of three spots.[4] Despite battling typhus that caused him to miss two qualifying tournaments, he rallied to reach the semi-finals at the All England Open, Swiss Open, and Japan Open, securing qualification.[4] This resilience highlighted his growth from a late entrant to a reliable national asset in early international competitions.Peak years and international breakthroughs
Hendrawan's peak competitive years spanned the late 1990s and early 2000s, a period marked by his emergence from the shadow of more established Indonesian players like Heryanto Arbi and Taufik Hidayat to become one of the world's top men's singles competitors. His technical prowess, characterized by precise net play and endurance in long rallies, allowed him to compete effectively against dominant Chinese and Danish rivals. During this time, he secured five individual titles in International Badminton Federation (IBF) World Grand Prix events, establishing himself as a consistent threat in high-stakes tournaments.[17] A key breakthrough came in 1997 with his first major individual title at the Thailand Open, where he defeated China's Chen Gang 15–9, 15–1 in the final, signaling his growing international potential after years of solid but unremarkable performances. This victory was followed by another Grand Prix win at the 1998 Singapore Open, overcoming Denmark's Peter Gade 15–10, 15–8, which propelled him into the world rankings' top 10 and contributed to Indonesia's Thomas Cup triumph that year, where he won all his matches in the championship round. At the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Hendrawan earned a silver medal in men's singles, losing the final to China's Dong Jiong 17–14, 10–15, 15–8, while also securing team gold, highlighting his reliability in both individual and team formats.[1] The 2000 Sydney Olympics represented Hendrawan's most prominent international breakthrough, as he reached the men's singles final and clinched silver after a 15–4, 15–13 defeat to China's Ji Xinpeng, becoming the first Indonesian to medal in the event since 1996 and boosting national morale amid high expectations.[18] Buoyed by this achievement, he captured the 2000 Thailand Open title.[17] His pinnacle arrived in 2001 at the IBF World Championships in Seville, Spain, where he won gold by edging Gade 15–6, 17–16 in the final, ending a decade-long drought for Indonesia in the men's singles category and affirming his position as the world's best.[2] These successes, coupled with additional Grand Prix victories like the 1995 Russian Open and contributions to Thomas Cup wins in 2000 and 2002, defined his peak era of sustained excellence before injuries and emerging talents led to his gradual decline post-2003.Major achievements
Olympic Games
Hendrawan represented Indonesia in the men's singles badminton event at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, marking his sole Olympic appearance. Seeded second in the tournament, he advanced directly to the round of 32 after receiving a bye in the opening round.[18][1] In the round of 32, Hendrawan defeated India's Pullela Gopichand in straight games, 15–9, 15–4, showcasing his strong baseline play and defensive prowess. He followed this with a quarterfinal victory over China's Sun Jun, prevailing 15–13, 15–5 in a match that highlighted his resilience in tight situations. These wins propelled him to the semifinals, where he dominated China's Xia Xuanze, 15–12, 15–4, securing his place in the final with consistent attacking smashes and net control.[19][20][21] In the gold medal match, Hendrawan faced China's Ji Xinpeng and fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, losing 4–15, 13–15. This performance earned him the silver medal, Indonesia's second badminton medal of the Games after the gold in mixed doubles. Hendrawan's Olympic silver remains a pinnacle achievement, underscoring his status as one of Indonesia's top singles players during the era.[4][22]World Championships
Hendrawan made his debut at the BWF World Championships in 1999 in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he advanced to the quarterfinals in men's singles by defeating opponents including South Korea's Park Tae-sang. In the quarterfinals, he faced defending Olympic champion Poul-Erik Høyer-Larsen of Denmark and was eliminated, securing a fifth-place finish overall.[23] This performance marked an early international breakthrough for the then-27-year-old Indonesian, highlighting his potential against top global competition.[24] Hendrawan's most notable achievement came at the 2001 BWF World Championships in Seville, Spain, where he clinched the men's singles gold medal, becoming Indonesia's first world champion in the discipline in over two decades.[2] In the semifinal, he defeated compatriot and world No. 3 Taufik Hidayat after Hidayat retired injured at 7-7 in the deciding game, following a closely contested match that saw Hidayat win the first game 15-11 and Hendrawan level it 15-5.[25] Advancing to the final, Hendrawan overcame top-seeded Dane Peter Gade in a tense two-game encounter, winning 15-6, 17-16 to secure the title.[26] This victory, coming a year after his Olympic silver in Sydney, solidified Hendrawan's status as one of badminton's elite players during the early 2000s.[27] Following his 2001 triumph, Hendrawan did not return to the World Championships in subsequent editions, as his career shifted toward team events and eventual retirement from competitive play in 2007.[28] His World Championships record thus remains defined by the 1999 quarterfinal appearance and the landmark 2001 gold, contributing significantly to Indonesia's storied badminton legacy.[29]Thomas Cup and team events
Hendrawan played a pivotal role in Indonesia's dominance of the Thomas Cup during the late 1990s and early 2000s, contributing to three consecutive team victories in 1998, 2000, and 2002.[30] In the 1998 final in Hong Kong, as a first-time participant, he secured a crucial singles win in the championship round against Malaysia, helping Indonesia clinch a 3-2 victory and their third straight title amid national challenges including riots back home.[31][32] His performance laid a strong foundation for the team's success, defeating experienced opponents to advance through the knockout stages.[33] In the 2000 Thomas Cup final in Kuala Lumpur, Hendrawan delivered the decisive third singles match, overcoming China's world number two Xia Xuanze with a score of 11-15, 15-7, 15-9 to seal Indonesia's 3-1 win over the defending champions.[34] This victory extended Indonesia's streak to four titles and highlighted his ability to perform under pressure against top-ranked Asian rivals.[35] Two years later, in the 2002 final in Guangzhou, he again proved instrumental by winning the rubber match against Malaysia's Roslin Hashim 8-7, 7-2, 7-1, clinching Indonesia's fifth consecutive Thomas Cup and marking his final major team triumph before transitioning to coaching.[3][36] Beyond the Thomas Cup, Hendrawan represented Indonesia in the Sudirman Cup mixed team championships, showcasing his value in all-around team formats. In 1999 in Copenhagen, he contributed to the team's bronze medal by winning key group stage singles matches, including a 11-15, 15-8, 15-4 victory over Malaysia's Ong Ewe Hock, helping secure third place after a semifinal loss to South Korea. Indonesia's 2001 campaign in Seville culminated in a silver medal, with Hendrawan starting the final against China strongly before losing the opening men's singles 15-12, 13-15, 15-10 to Chen Hong; the team fell 3-1 despite his efforts in earlier rounds.[37][38] These appearances underscored his reliability in mixed team events, where Indonesia medaled in both tournaments he contested.Asian Games and Championships
Hendrawan demonstrated strong performances in regional badminton competitions, particularly in men's singles and team events at the Asian Games and Asian Championships, where he helped elevate Indonesia's standing against dominant Asian rivals like China. At the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, Hendrawan clinched a silver medal in the men's singles event, falling to China's Dong Jiong in the final 17–14, 10–15, 15–8. He also contributed to Indonesia's gold medal in the men's team competition, securing key victories in the championship round.[1][39] In the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, Hendrawan earned a bronze medal in men's singles after losing to South Korea's Lee Hyun-il in the semifinals 3–15, 4–15. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in Indonesia's silver medal finish in the men's team event, where the squad was defeated by China in the final.[1][40] Regarding the Asian Championships, Hendrawan achieved a silver medal in men's singles at the 1997 edition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he was runner-up to China's Sun Jun after reaching the final. This marked one of his early international breakthroughs in individual play on the continent.[41]| Event | Year | Venue | Discipline | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asian Games | 1998 | Bangkok, Thailand | Men's singles | Silver |
| Asian Games | 1998 | Bangkok, Thailand | Men's team | Gold |
| Asian Games | 2002 | Busan, South Korea | Men's singles | Bronze |
| Asian Games | 2002 | Busan, South Korea | Men's team | Silver |
| Asian Championships | 1997 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Men's singles | Silver |