Gabby Adcock
Gabby Adcock is the “First Lady” of modern British badminton, a player whose tactical aggression at the net redefined England’s
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Hendra Setiawan
Hendra Setiawan is a legendary Indonesian men’s doubles specialist and one of the most decorated badminton players in history. He is an Olympic gold medallist, four-time World Champion, two-time Asian Games gold medallist, and two-time All England champion, meaning he has completed the full set of major individual titles in badminton.
Known for his calm net play, flawless reading of the game and leadership on court, Setiawan reached world No. 1 in men’s doubles with two different partners, Markis Kido and later Mohammad Ahsan. After officially retiring from the professional World Tour following the Indonesia Masters 2025, he has continued to shine in senior competition and stepped into coaching, extending his influence on the men’s doubles game
Basic Information
- Name: Hendra Setiawan
- Date of Birth: 25 August 1984
- Nationality: Indonesia 🇮🇩
- Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
- Handedness: Right-handed
- Playing Style: Exceptionally calm, tactical men’s doubles specialist; front-court-oriented with world-class net play, serve–return, and positional awareness.
- Highest Ranking: World No. 1 in men’s doubles (with Markis Kido – first reached 27 September 2007; with Mohammad Ahsan – 21 November 2013)
- Status: Retired from the professional World Tour (January 2025)
Career Highlights & Achievements
🏆 Olympic Games:
🥇 Gold – 2008 Beijing Olympic Games – Men’s Doubles with Markis Kido
🏆 World Championships:
🥇 Gold – 2007 Kuala Lumpur (with Markis Kido), 2013 Guangzhou, 2015 Jakarta, 2019 Basel (with Mohammad Ahsan)
🥈 Silver – 2022 Tokyo (with Mohammad Ahsan)
🥉 Bronze – 2010 Paris (with Markis Kido)
🏆 Asian Games:
🥇 Gold – 2010 Guangzhou (with Markis Kido), 2014 Incheon (with Mohammad Ahsan)
🥉 Bronze – 2006 Doha (with Markis Kido)
🏆 BWF World Tour / Superseries / Grand Prix
🥇 Gold – All England Open – 2× Champion in men’s doubles (2014 & 2019 with Mohammad Ahsan).
🥇 Numerous BWF Superseries / World Tour titles, including: Singapore Open, Indonesia Open, Japan Open, French Open, and others with Kido; plus multiple World Tour wins (e.g., Singapore Open 2018 and All England 2019) with Ahsan
🏆 SEA Games:
🥇 Gold – 2005 Manila, 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima, 2009 Vientiane (Men’s doubles with Markis Kido)
🥇 Gold – 2003 Vietnam, 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima, 2009 Vientiane, 2011 Jakarta–Palembang (Men’s team)
🏆 Team Events:
🏆 Thomas Cup:
🥇 Gold (1) – 2020 Aarhus
🥈 Silver (3) – 2010 Kuala Lumpur, 2016 Kunshan, 2022 Bangkok
🥉 Bronze (4) – 2006 Sendai & Tokyo, 2008 Jakarta, 2014 New Delhi, 2018 Bangkok
🏆 Sudirman Cup:
🥈 Silver (1) – 2007 Glasgow (Mixed Team)
🥉 Bronze (3) – 2009 Guangzhou, 2015 Dongguan, 2019 Nanning (Mixed Team)
Playing Style & Strengths
Hendra Setiawan is widely regarded as one of the greatest tactical men’s doubles players ever. His style leans on anticipation, touch and positioning rather than raw speed.
- World-Class Net Play: Elite serve–return combinations, tight spinning net shots and quick interceptions.
- Reading of the Game: Consistently appears “in the right place at the right time,” using his understanding of patterns and opponents’ tendencies to intercept and control rallies.
- Calm Under Pressure: Maintains relaxed body language even during long, tense rallies.
- Positional Discipline & Rotation: Textbook front-court positioning and smooth rotation with his partner.
- Deceptive Touch: Subtle holds, flicks and delayed net shots that wrong-foot opponents
Rivalries & Key Matches
🔹 Vs. Lee Yong Dae / Yoo Yeon Seong (Korea) – Frequent opponents during the mid-2010s when Setiawan/Ahsan and Lee/Yoo were the world’s two standout pairs.
🔹 Vs. Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng (China) – Iconic clashes in the 2008 Olympic final and multiple World Championship / Superseries meetings; Indonesia vs China at its peak.
🔹 Vs. Marcus Fernaldi Gideon / Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo – Marcus Fernaldi Gideon / Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
Notable Matches
🏸 2007 World Championships Final (Kuala Lumpur): Markis Kido / Hendra Setiawan def. Jung Jae Sung / Lee Yong Dae 21–19, 21–19 – his first World Championship gold.
🏸 2008 Olympic Final (Beijing): Kido / Setiawan def. Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng to win Olympic gold.
🏸 2013, 2015 & 2019 World Championships Finals (with Mohammad Ahsan): Three World Championship titles that established “The Daddies” as one of the greatest men’s doubles pairs of all time.
🏸 2014 & 2019 All England Open Finals: Tactical masterclasses at one of badminton’s most prestigious tournaments, both won with Ahsan.
Personal Life & Background
Hendra Setiawan was born in Pemalang, Central Java, Indonesia, and began playing badminton at around six years old before moving into the Indonesian club system. Early success came at junior level, including medals at the Asian Junior Championships, which paved the way for his transition into the senior national team.
He first rose to global prominence with Markis Kido, claiming titles such as the 2006 World Cup, 2007 World Championships, 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 Asian Games. At the end of 2012, he formed a new partnership with Mohammad Ahsan; together, they became known as “The Daddies”, winning the World Championships in 2013, 2015, and 2019, the 2014 Asian Games, two All England titles, and multiple season-ending finals.
Following his retirement from the professional circuit at the Indonesia Masters 2025, PBSI and tournament organisers held a special “Tribute to The Daddies” farewell event at Istora Senayan. Since then, Setiawan has moved into coaching, including working with the Indonesian men’s doubles pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama / Moh. Reza Pahlevi Isfahani. He also continues to play in the BWF World Senior Championships.
Setiawan is married to Sandiani Arief, and they have three children. His family has been a source of great motivation throughout his long career.
He maintains a popular YouTube channel where he shares vlogs about his life on the tour and time with his family.
Trivia & Fun Facts
⭐ Hendra Setiawan has won all major individual men’s doubles titles: Olympic Games, World Championships, Asian Games, All England and World Cup.
⭐ He has been world No. 1 with two different partners in men’s doubles, Markis Kido and Mohammad Ahsan.
⭐ He owns six SEA Games gold medals (three men’s doubles, three team).
⭐ He and Mohammad Ahsan are affectionately known as “The Daddies.”
⭐ The 2020 Thomas Cup title (played in 2021) was his first-ever team-event crown, after eight Thomas Cup appearances.
⭐ In 2025, just months after retiring from the World Tour, he won two golds at the BWF World Senior Championships (MD 40+ and XD 35+).
Latest News & Updates
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Officially retired from professional international badminton after the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2025, finishing with a round-of-16 exit alongside Mohammad Ahsan against Junaidi Arif / Yap Roy King (13–21, 14–21).
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PBSI and Indonesian media report Setiawan working as a men’s doubles coach and mentor, including guiding Sabar/Reza at major events.
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Completed a “double” (MD 40+ & XD 35+) in Pattaya without dropping a game in either event.
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Continues to feature in retrospective articles and interviews as one of Indonesia’s greatest men’s doubles players and a key mentor for the next generation.
- Daddies Arena opened on 30 April 2025 – Eight courts plus fitness facilities in Tangerang Selatan
FAQs
- What is Hendra Setiawan best known for?
- He is best known as an Olympic champion and four-time World Champion in men’s doubles, having won all major individual titles with partners Markis Kido and Mohammad Ahsan.
- How many World Championship titles does he have?
- He has four World Championship golds (2007, 2013, 2015, 2019) plus a silver (2022) and a bronze (2010) in men’s doubles.
- Did Hendra Setiawan win an Olympic medal?
- Yes – he won Olympic gold in men’s doubles at Beijing 2008 with Markis Kido.
- When did he retire from the professional tour?
- He retired after the Indonesia Masters 2025, where he and Mohammad Ahsan played their final World Tour match and received a farewell tribute at Istora Senayan.
- Is he still involved in badminton?
- Yes – he coaches men’s doubles players and competes in the BWF World Senior Championships, where he won double gold in 2025.
