PETALING JAYA: Former world No. 1 men’s doubles player Marcus Gideon of Indonesia has revealed that he is considering a return to competitive badminton on the international stage.
One of the factors driving Marcus to contemplate a comeback is his curiosity about taking on South Korea’s top pair Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho.
The world No. 1 duo successfully defended their title at the All-England after defeating Malaysia’s Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in a thrilling final on Sunday.
Marcus, who announced his retirement in March last year, admitted that he still keeps a close eye on the international badminton scene and remains curious about the prospect of facing Seung-jae and Won-ho if the opportunity arises.
“I still feel the itch to play. I’m curious about what makes Seung-jae and Won-ho so strong. I used to play against Seung-jae quite often but with a different partner, not Won-ho.
“When he partnered Kang Min-hyuk, I managed to win many of those matches. Maybe he is better now and more mature, but I’m still curious.
“They are that good. They hardly lose and can win up to 12 titles in a year. During my time, I think I won about nine or 10 titles in a season, maybe reaching 11 or 12 finals. Seung-jae is also very calm on court and that is something that is not easy to find,” said Marcus.
What Seung-jae and Won-ho are achieving now is similar to the dominance Marcus once enjoyed with former partner Kevin Sukamuljo.
The Indonesian pair dominated the BWF World Tour and held the world No. 1 ranking for 260 consecutive weeks from 2017 to 2022, making them one of the most feared men’s doubles combinations during that period.
Marcus also shared that his late father, Kurniahu Tjio Kay Kie, had hoped to see him return to the court before passing away on Jan 29.
Because of that, Marcus said he had personally raised the possibility with Indonesia’s national coaching staff in case there is a player looking for a partner.
“Before he passed away, my father told me that I should play again, so it made me think about it. When he was in the ICU, it felt like he was urging me to return.
“There is a possibility, but we will see how things develop.
“I have also spoken to coach Chafidz Yusuf. I told him that if there is an opportunity, perhaps with a player who currently does not have a partner and is suitable, then it could happen. But if not, there is no need to force it,” added Marcus.
