Opinion Editorial: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of BadmintonPlanet.com.
In recent days, Indonesian Badminton player Taufik Hidayat’s questioning of Lee Chong Wei’s inclusion into the Badminton Hall of Fame has sparked immense debate, particularly with Malaysian badminton fans who have expressed large discontent with his stance.
Below is Taufik Hidayat’s complete interview with his comments about Lee Chong Wei’s inclusion in the BWF Hall of Fame:
Nak ckp pasal prestasi ke pencapaian ke aku tak kisah tp bila ko kaitkan dato LCW dpt HOF sbb pejabat BWF di Malaysia,itu kenyataan dan tuduhan paling bodoh dan dangkal bagi aku oleh seorang legend bernama taufik hidayat. I’ve lost all respect for you
Credit: djayamkampung95 pic.twitter.com/2N8u8fNs6U— KnizaM Leo 🇲🇾🔰 (@kroolnizam) June 1, 2023
However, here on BadmintonPlanet.com, we would like to express compassion for both sides in this debate and help fans digest Taufik’s words in 5 steps.
1. Freedom of Speech
No matter who is right or wrong, it is important to acknowledge that everyone has freedom of speech, and under a democratic society, Taufik should be allowed to express his opinions openly just like anyone else.
2. Numbers Don’t Lie
Statistically speaking, Lee Chong Wei has a higher winning percentage than the three Olympic gold medalists: Lin Dan, Chen Long, and Taufik himself. This data challenges the argument presented by Taufik in the interview above against Lee Chong Wei’s qualifications for the BWF Hall of Fame.
According to the statistics below, as of 2020, Lee Chong Wei has played 848 matches in his career and won 713 of them, boasting a winning percentage of 84.08%. On the other hand, Lin Dan’s was 83.46%, Chen Long’s was 79.46%, and Taufik Hidayat’s winning percentage was 74.95%.
On top of this, Lee is the only person in the history of badminton who has spent 349 weeks as the No.1 ranked player in the world, and ranked No.1 for 200 consecutive weeks.
3. Not The First Time Taufik Hidayat Has Made Controversial Remarks
Taufik’s tendency to make controversial remarks is not unprecedented. In 2006, he labeled Lin Dan as arrogant, as reported in this article: “Taufik: Lin Dan arrogant.”
https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2006/12/02/taufik-lin-dan-arrogant
Additionally, in 2010, he downplayed the significance of Lin Dan’s four consecutive championships, emphasizing his admiration for the Asian Games instead.
https://sports.qq.com/a/20100823/000612.htm
4. Hall of Fame Election Requirements
It is also essential to understand that you don’t need a gold medal to enter the Hall of Fame. In many sports, inductions are based on a player’s overall impact on the sport, career records, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and team contributions.
FLooking at Yao Ming’s induction into the NBA Basketball Hall of Fame as an example, he had never won an NBA championship, Olympic gold medal, or World Championship. Yet, his influence on the game was so profound that it warranted his inclusion. He was even inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame as well in 2023, further emphasizing his contribution.
Hence, Taufik’s argument that Lee Chong Wei’s absence of a gold medal disqualifies him from the Hall of Fame is unfounded and inappropriate.
5. Let’s Spread More Love And Positivity
As a highly influential former player in badminton, Taufik Hidayat could’ve taken a more harmonious approach, promoting love and acceptance instead of engaging in attacks on Lee Chong Wei. Lee Chong Wei himself even wore a “We Love Taufik” T-shirt on the Indonesian court signifying the strong bond and respect he has for Taufik.
Even in intense rivalries such as the one between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan, we can see that such a rivalry only persisted on the court, and off the court a beautiful friendship can be fostered. There’s even been a recent viral video where Lee Chong Wei taught Lin Dan the language of Malay. These types of videos are what represent and emphasize the importance of fostering positive relationships within the badminton community as a whole.
Video of Lee Chong Wei Love Lin Dan 🙂
In conclusion, badminton legends such as Taufik Hidayat should focus on encouraging unity, spreading love, and nurturing a spirit of camaraderie within the badminton community as we move forward from this topic.
