Source: REUTERS/Carlos Perez Gallardo
[Saba Sports News] Last month, Indonesian badminton legend Taufik Hidayat was appointed by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, with a term running from 2024 to 2029. This appointment has garnered attention in Indonesia, with some citizens believing that Taufik, as a former world-class athlete, has the capability to take on this responsibility. In the Indonesian sports community, Taufik is known for his outspoken nature, often expressing dissatisfaction with negative phenomena in badminton and the overall Indonesian sports industry. During his playing career, Taufik achieved numerous accolades, winning gold medals at events such as the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and the Olympics, and he represented Indonesia in winning the Thomas Cup. He retired from badminton in 2013 and served as a special staff member for the Indonesian badminton youth team and the Ministry of Sports from 2017 to 2018. In a recent interview, Taufik revealed his political goals: to fully develop and promote sports and youth quality in Indonesia, helping the country secure more Olympic gold medals.