Hall of Fame

Razif & Jalani Sidek
“Double Trouble”

Sport: Badminton
Year Inducted: 2002

Razif and Jalani Sidek first came to the fore during the 1976 MSSM Under-15 meet where they worked their way to becoming champions. Jalani was also an adept singles player, beating Razif at the national Under-18 championship in 1979. He went on to win the singles titles at the Swedish Open and Canadian Open in 1983.

Together, Razif and Jalani were a formidable team. They made the nation sit up and take notice when they won the All England Championships in 1982, ending Malaysia’s drought since 1966. That same year, they won the World Open, making them a household name. They were also instrumental in helping Malaysia regain the Thomas Cup in 1992 after a lapse of 25 years.

The brothers attribute their passion and success to their father, Dato’ Haji Sidek, who was an avid badminton player himself and encouraged his children to take up the sport from an early age. Jalani, the younger of the two, was renowned for his accurate power-packed smashes. He was the more outgoing and outspoken one, much to the consternation of badminton authorities. A year older, Razif’s calm and easygoing manner perfectly complemented his brother’s capriciousness.

The Sidek brothers won almost every title on offer during their playing career, including the World Grand Prix, Malaysian Open, SEA Games, Commonwealth Games, China Open and Indonesian Open. The doubles pair also won a bronze at the Barcelona Games in 1992 – Malaysia’s first ever Olympic medal.

They introduced the infamous “S” Service, which caused a deceptively erratic shuttle movement, which confounded their opponents and officials alike. The service caused much uproar and was eventually banned by the International Badminton Federation (IBF).

The brothers’ track record is matched by few local pairs. They leave us with a blazing legacy of badminton excellence, and serve as a benchmark for future doubles pairs of the nation.

ACHIEVEMENTS (HIGHLIGHTS):

As Athlete
1982 - All England Champion (Youngest Malaysian pair to win)

1983-84 - Canadian Open [Champion]

1986, 1988-89, 1991 - World Grand Prix [Champion]

1988,1990 - Indonesian Open [Champions]

1992 - Thomas Cup [Champions]

1989,1991 - SEA Games [Gold medal]

1990 - Commonwealth Games [Gold medal]

1990-92 - Asian Badminton Championships [Champions]

1991 - Olympic Games [Bronze medal] (Malaysia’s first Olympic medal)

* National Doubles Champion - 13 consecutive yrs.

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