Jakarta: After the end of the men’s doubles event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Indonesia’s badminton legend – Hendra Setiawan posted on his Instagram page saying “Bye2 Tokyo 2020..👋 My last Olympic Games is over 🙏”. That fuelled speculation that Setiawan could be calling it quit after the Tokyo Games.
Speaking to Indonesian media, detikSport, Hendrawan who will turn 36 years old on August 25th, said he did not plan to retire so soon.
“Haha, there’s nothing that needs to be clarified. About retirement? Nobody knows, for sure I am still playing now,” said Hendra Setiawan.
Although Setiawan has won the men’s doubles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Markis Kido, he and Mohammad Ahsan have yet to produce any medals at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. They were defeated by the eventual gold medalists, Lee Yang/Wang Chi-lin in the semi-finals and lost to Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia in the bronze medal playoff at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“We don’t know which tournament we are going to play next. I am still in discussion with (Mohammad) Ahsan,” said Hendra about his next tournament, after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
These tournaments – BWF World Super 500 Korea Open, Super 300 Taiwan Open, Sudirman Cup, and Thomas Cup will take place in the remaining of 2021 after the Tokyo Olympics.
