By Duncan Mackay

Taufik Hidayat retires Indonesia Open June 2013June 16 - Former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat has officially retired from badminton at the age of 31 after being knocked out in the first round of the Indonesia Open Super Series Premier in Jakarta.


Taufik's official farewell took place shortly before the final of the tournament at Indonesia's landmark Istora Senayan badminton arena, which was won by Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei. 

"After 25 years of playing badminton, in which 17 years as professional players in national and international tournaments, this time is probably the best time for me to retire," he said.

"This is an emotional moment for me.

"Thanks for badminton sport stakeholders that have been backing me up along this time."

Taufik then handed over a badminton racket to a young Indonesian player, symbolising the next generation.

"On the behalf of PBSI (Indonesian Badminton Association) and people of Indonesia I thank you for your dedication andcontribution," said PBSI chairman Gita Wirjawan.

"There is no such a former champion.

"Once a champion always a champion," .

Taufik's last tournament had ended in disappointment when he was beaten in the opening round  of a tournament he had won six times between 1999 and 2006 by unseeded Indian qualifier Sai Praneeth. 

Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia celebrates with his coach Mulyo Handoyo red pants after defeating Seung Mo Shon of Korea in the mens singles badminton gold medal matchIndonesia's Taufik Hidayat with his coach Mulyo Handoyo, in red pants, after defeating South Korea's Seung Mo Shon to claim the Olympic gold medal at Athens 2004

Winning the Olympic gold medal in the men's singles at Athens 2004 was the highlight of Taufik's career but he followed that up by claiming the world title in Anaheim the following year and then the Asian Games at Doha in 2006, the second consecutive time he had won that event following Busan 2002. 

He also finished runner-up in the 2010 World Championships in Paris and won bronze medals at Seville in 2001 and Hyderabad in 2009.

But Hidayat was also renowned for his fiery temper and earlier in his career, he was notorious as the bad boy of badminton, drawing comparisons with outspoken tennis great John McEnroe.

He once split from the PBSI and based himself in Singapore, and on one occasion was ordered off the courts by security staff after a stand-off with officials at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Hidayat reportedly attacked a spectator at the 2001 Indonesia Championships, and he also walked out of a match during the 2002 Asian Games - which he later won - in a dispute over line-judging.

In 2006, he stormed out of a match in Hong Kong after complaining about the line-judging.

According to reports, he was also involved in a carpark scuffle during the 2004 Thomas and Uber Cup in Jakarta.

Taufik now plans to focus on his badminton academy and his sport hall called the Taufik Hiday Arena located in Ciracas, East Jakarta.

The futuristic-designed building is built on 6,600 meter square of land area and provides complete training sessions, including accommodation for talented young players from around world.

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