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Photo: Badmintonphoto
Markis Kido – One of a kind
Date: 6/15/2021 2:06 PM
Published by : Rasmus Bech(BEC)

Communication Manager at Badminton Europe, Rasmus Bech, talks about the Indonesian legend, who Monday passed away due to a heart attack at the age of just 36.

For us who watched Markis Kido playing badminton, memories will always remain. With his 1.68m, he was one of the shorter players on the international stage, but he was the clear proof that height does not matter if you are good at what you do.

Markis Kido was one of the most talented players, I have ever seen on court, and he was one of the most entertaining players to watch too. He was one of the players who made badminton interesting.

One of my first memories of Markis Kido was the 2007 World Championships final which Kido and Hendra Setiawan won against Korea’s Lee Yong Dae and late Jung Jae Sung. The title was until then the biggest win for the Indonesians who one year later won the 2008 Olympic Games beating Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun in the final in Beijing. At that point, no one were better than the explosive Kido and the calm Setiawan.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Markis Kido a couple of times, and every time he took his time. He was never rushing, and it was the same towards all the fans who were waiting to get an autograph or a photo. He never let anybody down. He smiled, signed and smiled again.

If you do not remember how it was to watch Kido and Setiawan play, I suggest that you do a google search and find some of their highlights. The service situation was phenomenal and the hard-hitting Kido who could just continue his never-ending attack are some of the reasons why badminton fans all over the world today mourn the man who won it all.

Kido won it all, but he also passed on to the next generation. Hendra Setiawan and Markis Kido split up as a doubles pair in 2012 after missing the qualification to the London Olympics with less than 100 points. Instead of retiring, the 28-year-old Kido partnered up with one of the young players who turned out to be a part of the new generation of Indonesian men’s doubles super stars.

The former World champion and Olympic gold medallist took young Marcus Fernaldi Gideon under his wings, and together they beat Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen at the YONEX All England in 2014, a tournament I was lucky to commentate for Danish TV. I remember the match up because Kido was brilliant, and Gideon had the perfect mentor. The explosiveness of the Indonesian pair was amazing, and today you can see that Gideon and his current partner, Kevin Sukamuljo, both have been inspired by Markis Kido.

In the last part of his career, Kido played alongside his sister, Pia Bernadeth, reaching the spot as world number eight, before retiring from international level in 2018.

I will always remember the entertainment level Markis Kido brought to the badminton court. I will always remember the 2008 Olympic final and the celebration. I will always remember the interviews we did. I will always remember sitting next to him in a shuttle bus at Denmark Open, but I will also always remember that he left this world way too early.

Markis Kido – thank you for everything. My thoughts go out to your family, friends and loved ones. May you rest in peace.

©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

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