Source:REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
[Saba Sports News] Indonesian badminton player Muhammad Rian Ardianto recently shared a family photo of himself, his wife, and their three-month-old son on social media, attracting strong attention from fans. In the photo, both Ardianto and his wife are wearing traditional Indonesian attire, while their son, who is just seven months old, is dressed in a traditional outfit similar to his father’s. The heartwarming scene has garnered numerous likes and comments from fans.
Ardianto, who just celebrated his 30th birthday last month, is a men’s doubles badminton player for Indonesia. He gained fame at an early age and was a key player for the Indonesian team during his youth, having reached the mixed doubles finals at the 2014 Badminton Asian Junior Championships and the World Junior Championships. After entering the senior category, Ardianto focused on men’s doubles, teaming up with Alfian. The duo quickly achieved success, with a winning rate exceeding 50% in BWF events since 2015. However, during that period, the strength of the Indonesian men’s doubles teams like Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan and Marcus F. Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo overshadowed Ardianto and Alfian.
In 2019, the two finally claimed championship titles at the Swiss and Korean competitions and earned a bronze medal at the Badminton World Championships. Their last partnership took place at last year’s World Championships, after which both players changed partners.
In the editor’s opinion, Ardianto is one of the top men’s doubles players in the early 2020s. The “Double A” duo he formed with Alfian once dominated the men’s doubles scene and represents an important part of Indonesia’s golden generation in badminton. Despite recent adjustments in partnerships and fluctuations in performance, his historical achievements and experience in major competitions still render him competitive. Whether he can reclaim his peak in the future will depend on the synergy with his new partner and the restoration of his own form.