TALENT PIPELINE IS DRYING UP: TAUFIK

Ex-champ says Indonesia lack successors to Ginting, Christie; situation has to change

- Kimberly Kwek

As Taufik Hidayat was getting ready for a photo shoot at the Singapore Badminton Stadium on Sept 27, a fan approached the Indonesian badminton great for a wefie. Within the next 10 minutes, the 43-year-old had to field more requests for autographs and photographs. It has been over a decade since he retired from the sport, but the legend's star power is still evident.

Taufik enjoyed an illustrious career during which he was crowned world champion (2005) and Olympic gold medallist (2004), placing him in the ranks of his compatriots who had also made their mark in world badminton.

While his legacy lives on after his retirement, things appear to be less rosy for Indonesia.

Once the sport's powerhouses, they have not been as dominant as they used to be.

The former world No. 1 was also not too optimistic about the future of the sport in South-east Asia's most populous country.

"I don't know if Indonesia is slowing down or if other countries are going up," said Taufik, who is in Singapore for the Sept 27-29 Foo Kok Keong (FKK) International Cup.