Indonesian players have a unique trend of dyeing their hair with bright colours before participating in a tournament. Beyond wanting to stand out, this trend seems to have its own meaning.
Here is a list of players who have tried this trend in recent times.
Fajar Alfian
Before participating in the Asian leg of tournaments, men’s doubles world No. 6 Fajar Alfian showcased his bright blue hair colour. He said with the dawn of the new year it was a new year, new hair. Blue is not only his favourite colour but it is the colour of his favorite football club Persib Bandung from his hometown.
However, the intention of wanting to start a new beginning with new hair did not go well. At the Yonex Thailand Open, he and partner Muhammad Rian Ardianto lost in the round of 16. And at the ongoing Toyota Thailand Open, the pair lost in the first round.
Praveen Jordan
At the 2017 Indonesia Open press conference, Praveen Jordan appeared with bright golden yellow hair and it was quite the eyecatcher. Unfortunately, the golden colour did not give him a golden result, to say the least. He and his then partner Debby Susanto lost in the round of 32.
Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
Like Jordan, Kevin Sanjaya also changed his hair color to blue before participating in the 2017 Indonesia Open. The world No. 1 had his own reason as to why he chose the colour. According to him, light blue is a reflection of the sky and it illustrates his vision for winning the title at home soil.
His expectations were not met in any way as he lost in the round of 32.
Tontowi Ahmad
Tontowi Ahmad is the lone player for whom this trend of dyed hair has worked. Before the 2016 Rio Olympics, he dyed his hair golden. He admitted that he wanted to be different and that he was tired of his black hair.
Ahmad won the gold at the Olympics that year in the mixed doubles discipline with Liliyana Natsir.
Perhaps the younger generation of Indonesian shuttlers is taking after Ahmad in following the hair colour trend.
