KUALA LUMPUR – Former world No. 1 men’s doubles player Marcus Fernaldi Gideon made an unexpected appearance at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) on Monday, March 16, 2026, joining the national team for a training session. The visit came as a surprise, occurring during a family vacation in Malaysia.
The Indonesian badminton legend, who previously dominated the world alongside Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo as “The Minions,” sought out the opportunity to train with the Malaysian squad. According to Rexy Mainaky, Director of the national doubles training program, Marcus requested permission from both Herry Iman Pierngadi (Herry IP) – his former coach now working with the Malaysian team – and Mainaky himself to participate in the session.
“Marcus is actually on holiday in Malaysia with his family,” Mainaky explained, as reported by Berita Harian. “But he’s the type of person who can’t stay away from the court for too long. He asked Herry and me if he could join the training, and we were happy to have him.”
Mainaky even extended an invitation for Marcus to return for another session on Tuesday morning. The impromptu training sparked interest, with Marcus posting a short video of the session on social media.
Even as the visit was brief, Mainaky believes the Malaysian players, particularly the younger generation, can benefit from the experience. “We can see the benefits, especially for our young players,” Mainaky said. “Even at 35 years old, he can still provide quality sparring for our players. I hope the young players take this opportunity to learn. Even just chatting with Marcus, I hope they observe what he brings to the court and consider it a valuable lesson.”
Marcus and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo held the world No. 1 ranking for a remarkable 226 weeks before retiring from international competition last year. Their absence has been felt in the world of men’s doubles, and this brief return to the court, even in a training capacity, highlights the enduring skill and passion of the Indonesian star.
Marcus himself downplayed the visit, stating simply that he was on vacation when approached for comment. “I’m just on holiday,” he said, according to News Straits Times.
Herry Iman Pierngadi, currently serving as the men’s doubles head coach of the Malaysia national badminton team since February 1, 2025, was instrumental in facilitating Marcus’s training session. Herry IP has a distinguished coaching career, having trained seven world champions throughout his tenure with the Indonesian national team before joining the Malaysian setup.
The unexpected reunion between Marcus Gideon and Herry IP underscores the strong bond between the player and coach, even as their professional paths have diverged. It also demonstrates Marcus’s continued dedication to the sport, even during his retirement. The Malaysian team will undoubtedly benefit from the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest doubles players of all time.
The Malaysian team is currently preparing for upcoming tournaments, and the addition of a player of Marcus Gideon’s caliber, even for a single session, provides a valuable boost to their training regimen. Fans will be watching closely to see how this brief encounter impacts the performance of the Malaysian men’s doubles team in the weeks and months to come.
What’s Next: The Malaysian national team continues preparations for upcoming international tournaments. Further updates on their training schedule and tournament participation will be released through official Badminton Malaysia channels.
