JAKARTA - Markis Kido is not a tall badminton player. His body only towered 168 centimeters. But his dexterity and strength can be pitted. Markis Kido contributed many achievements to the nation, including his action with Hendra Setiawan at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, which resulted in the gold medal for Merah Putih.

Badminton is the honor of the Indonesian nation in world sports events. Including the Olympics. It is noted that the Olympic gold tradition has been won by a number of players, ranging from the women's singles, Susi Susanti and the men's singles, Alan Budikusuma (Barcelona 1992); men's doubles Ricky Soebagja-Rexy Mainaky (Atlanta 1996); men's doubles Candra Wijaya-Tony Gunawan (Sydney 2000); men's singles Taufik Hidayat (Athens 2004); and Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan for the men's doubles class in Beijing, 2008.

Markis Kido showed talent for playing badminton since childhood. However, Markis Kido's career journey has not been very smooth. At first he was only a single player and had been in the national training camp (Pelatnas) since 2001. However, after a year there, it turned out that Markis Kido had not made any progress, until the peak of being loved by ulam arrived. Markis Kido received an offer to play men's doubles from a badminton coach.

“An offer to play men's doubles also came from the coach. Kido was initially paired with Rian Sukmawan. A year later, the pair were dismantled again. This time, Kido is combined with Hendra, who was previously paired with Joko Riadi,” wrote Lis Yuliawati in her article in Tempo Magazine entitled The Deadly Gedoran (2005).

Even so, Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan are not the first to be paired. Long before entering national training, the two who took shelter in the PB Jaya Raya badminton club had played together. Both have even won several national circuits, such as the Jakarta Open, Sinar Mutiara, and Jawa Pos.

Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan (Source: PBSI)

Therefore, the Indonesian doubles looked compact on and off the field. Like friends who can understand each other. The compactness bears sweet fruit. When paired back in the national training, a series of brilliant achievements were carved out. They are even touted as men's doubles specialists.

As explained in the BERNAS article entitled Titles, Medals, and All Greatness Markis Kido, both won the Asian Badminton Championships and the Indonesia Open in 2005. A year later, they won the Hong Kong Open and China Open after defeating the Chinese men's doubles pair, Cai Yun/ Fu Haifeng in the final.

The achievements of both of them increasingly shot in 2007. At that time both managed to become world badminton champions. They successfully reached the highest podium in the China Super Series event. Moreover, both of them became the main driving force for the Indonesian badminton team when they presented the 2007 Sea Games gold medal. At their peak, they gave gold to Indonesia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The winning streak at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Hendra Setiawan and Markis Kido (Source: bwf.badminton.com)

Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan's struggle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics did not go smoothly. In the preparation phase which lasted for six weeks, Hendra injured his left ankle. The doctor even advised Hendra to rest for 10-20 weeks.

However, Hendra ignored the recommendation in order to be able to play in the Olympics. Of course, with practice adopting a special way. Hendra's training at that time was only focused on the hands without moving the legs. At that time Markis Kido never stopped giving encouragement.

Hendra Setiawan-Markis Kido (Instagram/@bwf.official)

"At the beginning of Hendra's injury, I was worried too. However, after seeing Hendra practicing so enthusiastically, I became convinced again that this was indeed our moment," said Markis Kido, quoted by Juara.net.

Not only that, the next test will appear on the day of the announcement of the draw for the quarter-finals. The draw immediately brought Markis-Hendra together with the Malaysian men's doubles, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

Previously, it was known that the Malaysian double had never been beaten by Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan. Moreover, Indonesia's double defeat record against Malaysia's doubles was 0-6. However, the Indonesian double proves that good statistics do not apply to the Olympics. They won over the Malaysian doubles in straight sets, 21-16 and 21-18.

Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan (Instagram/@bwf.official)

After that, the Indonesian double met the Danish pair, Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen in the semi-finals. Armed with the spirit to beat the Malaysian doubles, the Indonesian doubles immediately stepped on the gas by beating the Danish doubles in two straight games, 21-19, 21-17.

The victory led them to meet their arch-enemy and host Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng. “Before the match, we were tense. We are the only hope to preserve the golden tradition in badminton,” said Markis Kido.

List of trips by Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (Source: p2k.um-surabaya.ac.id)

The match was then considered the culmination of all difficulties for the Indonesian doubles. Indonesian doubles will compete against the host players. In the midst of the roar of the host's public support, Markis-Hendra did not flinch. Markis-Hendra won the rubber game, 12-21, 21-11, 21-16.

“Men's doubles pair Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan continue the tradition of winning gold at the Olympics for badminton. They beat the Chinese pair, Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun, at Beijing University of Technology, August 16, 2008. The score was tight: 12-21, 21-11, 21-16. The gold medal was brought to the country and continued success in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), and Athens (2004)," wrote Tempo Magazine's report entitled The Successor of the Golden Tradition (2008).

Markis Kido's winning mentality
Markis Kido (Source: PBSI)

The achievement of the highest Olympic gold achievement did not make Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan satisfied. They continued to make other achievements, including becoming the 2009 Asian champion, and getting a gold medal at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.

The two chose to separate in 2012. After that, Markis Kido chose to continue his professional career by partnering with one of the young players, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon.

The new Indonesian doubles immediately won two titles: the 2013 French Open and the 2014 Indonesia Masters. His existence in the badminton world continues.

Markis Kido also had a chance to plunge into the mixed doubles professionally with his sister, Pia Zebadiah Bernadet. Together with Pia, Markis Kido won the Vietnam Open 2012 and Thailand Open 2013.

Pia Zebadiah and Markis Kido (Instagram/@bwf.official)

A few years later, Markis Kido chose to hang up his racket. He then chose to devote himself as a coach to the badminton club that raised him first, PB Jaya Raya, a badminton club formed by entrepreneur, Ciputra.

“On August 16, 2008 I watched the final match of the 2008 Beijing Olympics badminton with my heart pounding. The first reason is because Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan are athletes trained by the Jaya Raya Badminton Club, a sports club that I founded 30 years ago,” Ciputra wrote in his book Ciputra Quantum Leap (2013).

Markis Kido's new career really ended from badminton on Monday, June 14. The Indonesian badminton legend died at the age of 36 years. His passing brings with it deep sorrow for badminton and all Indonesian people.

*Read other information about badminton or read other interesting articles from Detha Arya Tifada.

Other MEMORIES

The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)