Indonesia’s men’s doubles team has long been the pride of Indonesian badminton. Over the years, it has consistently produced world-class players who dominated international tournaments. During their peak, Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, famously known as “The Minions,” won numerous World Tour titles and became the most feared pair in men’s doubles. Their speed, skill, and dominance on the court ensured that Indonesia remained a major force in the world of badminton. In addition to Kevin and Marcus, other pairs such as Hendra Setiawan / Mohammad Ahsan and Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Rian Ardianto also contributed significantly to Indonesia’s success.
However, things have changed in recent years. The retirement of Kevin and Marcus from international badminton left a huge gap in Indonesia’s men’s doubles. While there are still strong pairs in the team, their performance has not been as consistent or dominant as before. At the start of 2025, Indonesia’s men’s doubles pairs reached two finals but failed to win a title. Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Rian Ardianto lost to Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong / Tee Kai Wun in straight games (21-11, 21-19) at the Indonesia Masters. Then, Muhammad Shohibul Fikri / Daniel Marthin suffered a similar fate, losing to South Korea’s Jin Yong / Seo Seung-jae in straight games (21-18, 21-17) at the Thailand Masters. These results highlight the current struggles of Indonesia’s men’s doubles.
For many years, men’s doubles was Indonesia’s strongest category, often compensating for the decline in other categories such as men’s singles and women’s singles. Even when other sectors were not performing well, Indonesia could always count on its men’s doubles pairs to bring home titles. However, that is no longer the case. The recent performances show that Indonesia’s men’s doubles team is not as dominant as before. They are still strong, but they are no longer feared as they once were.
One of the main problems is the lack of a truly dominant pair. While there are several talented pairs, none of them have been able to establish themselves as the best in the world. They often reach the later stages of tournaments but fail to secure titles. In contrast, countries like Malaysia and South Korea have developed strong and consistent pairs that regularly win major tournaments.
If Indonesia wants to regain its strength in men’s doubles, improvements must be made. The players need better strategies, mental toughness, and consistency. Coaches and the badminton federation must find ways to rebuild Indonesia’s dominance. Men’s doubles has always been Indonesia’s stronghold, and with the right approach, it can return to the top of world badminton.