Doubles aces Hendra-Ahsan ‘reunite' to open Daddies Arena
PETALING JAYA: Badminton legends Hendra Setiawan-Mohamad Ahsan, fondly known as 'The Daddies' are taking their passion for the sport beyond the court with the launch of their very own badminton centre, named Daddies Arena in honour of their famous moniker.
Located in South Tangerang, Jakarta, the sprawling 5,000 square metre facility officially opened its doors on May 1.
It boasts eight badminton courts, a fully equipped gym, and sauna facilities, offering a premium experience for players of all levels.
Court rental rates are set at Rp80,000 (RM24) per hour on weekdays and Rp100,000 (RM30) per hour on weekends and public holidays.
For Hendra and Ahsan, the idea had been in the pipeline for quite some time, and they were thrilled to finally see it come to life especially since the land used for the project belongs to Ahsan himself.
'We've been planning this since last year, and coincidentally we live nearby. We scouted around for a large and strategic piece of land and eventually found this one,' said Hendra. 'Ahsan already had the land, and after some discussions, we moved forward with plans to construct the building.'
However, the three-time world champions have yet to make concrete plans to set up their own badminton academy, unlike some of their fellow players who have already ventured into coaching.
'Yes, InshaAllah we do plan to establish one in the future. But for now, our focus is here first,' added Ahsan
'Later on, we'll discuss it further. There's a possibility of setting up a Daddies Academy, then we'll decide on the system, the coaches, and everything else.'
After more than 30 years on court, Hendra-Ahsan, who have won numerous major titles together, officially announced their retirement in early January after falling to Malaysia's Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King in the second round of the Indonesian Masters.
Following his retirement, Hendra returned to the world's oldest badminton tournament, the All-England in Birmingham last March, this time stepping into a coaching role with Sabar Karyaman-Reza Pahlevi.
He guided the pair to an impressive run into the semi-finals before they were stopped by compatriots Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana.
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