PETALING JAYA: Doubles shuttler Soh Wooi Yik says Indonesian Hendra Setiawan had always been his hero and idol.
Wooi Yik grew up wanting to be as lethal and dynamic as Hendra from childhood and he is glad that he had followed his idol's path to some extent by becoming a world champion like him and winning medals at the Olympic Games.
Wooi Yik lifted the world title with Aaron Chia in 2020 in Japan and had won bronze medals at the last two Olympic Games edition in 2020 and 2024.
"He is the only legend in my heart who is not defined by his success," said Wooi Yik in his IG post.
"But he is forever respected as he had impacted my whole badminton career and my life."
It was a perfect tribute for Hendra, who had announced that he would be retiring from the sport after serving for more than three decades. His last tournament will be the Indonesian Masters next month.
