Rafael Candra Wijaya (; born Tan Chia Liang, 16 September 1975) is an Indonesian badminton player.
Career Wijaya started his career in badminton at the age of five, motivated by his brother Indra Wijaya and later joined a club in Cirebon. His father, Hendra Wijaya, then took him to a club Pelita Jakarta when he was fourteen. In 1991, he was selected to join the national team. In 1998, he moved to Jaya Raya Jakarta.
Wijaya is a doubles specialist. He has been rated among the best men's doubles players in the world for over a decade. Noted for his ability in all phases of the doubles game, he has reached the final of the BWF World Championships three times with countryman Sigit Budiarto. They won the 1997 edition in Glasgow, Scotland and finished second in 2003 and 2005. With Tony Gunawan he captured the men's doubles gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Though Budiarto has been his most frequent partner, Wijaya has won top tier men's doubles events (and a mixed doubles event or two) with a variety of players, recently renewing an earlier partnership with Gunawan. Wijaya was a member of the world champion Indonesia Thomas Cup (men's international) teams of 1998, 2000, and 2002. He was named IBF Player of the Year and received the Eddy Choong awards in 2000.
In 2007 he joined the Japanese club owned by Tonami.Candra Wijaya joins Japanese club, BadZine.net, 24 April 2007
Personal life Wijaya was born in a badminton family. His father Hendra Wijaya introduced him to badminton at the young age. His siblings, Indra Wijaya, Rendra Wijaya and Sandrawati Wijaya also a former national badminton players. He married Maria Caroline Indriani on 20 January 2001 at St. Thomas Rasul Church in Cengkareng. They have two children.
He was a founder of Candra Wijaya International Badminton Centre, and Candra Wijaya badminton club.
Participation at Indonesian Team 6 times at Sudirman Cup (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007) 6 times at Thomas Cup (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008)
Awards and nominations +AwardYearCategoryResultInternational Badminton Federation Awards2000Eddy Choong Player of the Year
Achievements
Olympic Games Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result Ref 2000 The Dome, Sydney, Australia Tony Gunawan Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 15–10, 9–15, 15–7 Gold
World Championships Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result Ref 1997 Scotstoun Centre, Glasgow, Scotland Sigit Budiarto Cheah Soon Kit Yap Kim Hock 8–15, 18–17, 15–7 Gold 2003 National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, United Kingdom Sigit Budiarto Lars Paaske Jonas Rasmussen 7–15, 15–13, 13–15 Silver 2005 Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, United States Sigit Budiarto Howard Bach Tony Gunawan 11–15, 15–10, 11–15 Silver
World Cup Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result Ref 1997 Among Rogo Sports Hall, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Sigit Budiarto Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 15–8, 8–15, 12–15 Bronze 2005 Olympic Park, Yiyang, China Sigit Budiarto Cai Yun Fu Haifeng 11–21, 18–21 Silver
Asian Championships Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1995 Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Beijing, China Ade Sutrisna Cheah Soon Kit Yap Kim Hock 6–15, 8–15 Bronze 1996 Pancasila Hall, Surabaya, Indonesia Ade Sutrisna Ha Tae-kwon Kang Kyung-jin 15–8, 15–17, 15–11 Gold 2000 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Antonius Ariantho Choong Tan Fook Lee Wan Wah 12–15, 5–15 Bronze 2001 PhilSports Arena, Manila, Philippines Tony Gunawan Tri Kusharjanto Bambang Suprianto 15–8, 13–15, 13–15 Silver 2002 Nimibutr Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Sigit Budiarto Ha Tae-kwon Kim Dong-moon 6–15, 8–15 Silver 2004 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Halim Haryanto Tri Kusharjanto Sigit Budiarto 13–15, 5–15 Silver 2008 Bandaraya Stadium, Johor Bahru, Malaysia Nova Widianto Jung Jae-sung Lee Yong-dae 16–21, 16–21 Silver
Asian Cup Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1995 Xinxing Gymnasium, Qingdao, China Ade Sutrisna Huang Zhanzhong Jiang Xin Bronze 1996 Olympic Gymnasium No. 2,Seoul, South Korea Ade Sutrisna Kim Dong-moon Yoo Yong-sung 11–15, 6–15 Bronze
SEA Games Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1997 Asia-Africa hall, Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, Jakarta, Indonesia Sigit Budiarto Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja 15–4, 14–17, 15–11 Gold 2001 Malawati Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia Sigit Budiarto Tony Gunawan Bambang Suprianto 15–4, 15–6 Gold
Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1997 Asia-Africa hall, Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, Jakarta, Indonesia Eliza Nathanael Tri Kusharjanto Minarti Timur 12–15, 15–7, 15–2 Gold
World Junior Championships The Bimantara World Junior Championships was an international invitation badminton tournament for junior players. It was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 1987 to 1991. In 1992, International Badminton Federation (former name of Badminton World Federation) started the first IBF World Junior Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Boys' doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1991 Jakarta, Indonesia Bambang Suyono Dadan Hidayat Kurnia 7–15, 7–15 Silver
Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1992 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Susi Chusnul Jim Laugesen Rikke Olsen 13–15, 15–17 Bronze
BWF Superseries (1 title, 3 runners-up) The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007, is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels are Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consists of twelve tournaments around the world that have been introduced since 2011. Successful players are invited to the Superseries Finals, which are held at the end of each year.
Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2007 Malaysia Open Tony Gunawan Koo Kien Keat Tan Boon Heong 15–21, 18–21 Runner-up 2007 Japan Open Tony Gunawan Luluk Hadiyanto Alvent Yulianto 21–18, 21–17 Winner 2007 Hong Kong Open Tony Gunawan Markis Kido Hendra Setiawan 12–21, 21–18, 13–21 Runner-up 2008 Indonesia Open Tony Gunawan Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari 21–19, 18–21, 14–21 Runner-up BWF Superseries Finals tournament BWF Superseries Premier tournament BWF Superseries tournament
IBF/BWF Grand Prix (33 titles, 14 runners-up) The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) which was held from 2007 to 2017. The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.
Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1994 Canadian Open Ade Sutrisna Yap Yee Guan Yap Yee Hup 15–10, 15–12 Winner 1994 U.S. Open Ade Sutrisna Yap Yee Guan Yap Yee Hup 15–8, 15–14 Winner 1995 German Open Ade Sutrisna Jon Holst-Christensen Thomas Lund 8–15, 13–15 Runner-up 1996 Swedish Open Ade Sutrisna Sigit Budiarto Dicky Purwotjugiono 15–12, 15–6 Winner 1996 U.S. Open Sigit Budiarto Cheah Soon Kit Yap Kim Hock 18–16, 15–10 Winner 1996 China Open Sigit Budiarto Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja 15–12, 15–5 Winner 1996 Thailand Open Sigit Budiarto Ha Tae-kwon Kang Kyung-jin 15–11, 10–15, 15–12 Winner 1997 Chinese Taipei Open Sigit Budiarto Antonius Ariantho Denny Kantono 15–11, 15–2 Winner 1997 Swiss Open Sigit Budiarto Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 15–5, 11–15, 4–15 Runner-up 1997 Indonesia Open Sigit Budiarto Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 15–9, 15–10 Winner 1997 Singapore Open Sigit Budiarto Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 15–8, 15–10 Winner 1997 Thailand Open Sigit Budiarto Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 9–15, 14–17 Runner-up 1997 World Grand Prix Finals Sigit Budiarto Cheah Soon Kit Yap Kim Hock 17–15, 11–15, 15–5 Winner 1998 Swedish Open Tony Gunawan Yang Ming Zhang Jun 15–3, 15–6 Winner 1998 All England Open Tony Gunawan Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 10–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1998 Singapore Open Sigit Budiarto Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja 15–5, 15–5 Winner 1998 Hong Kong Open Tony Gunawan Jens Eriksen Jesper Larsen 15–10, 15–9 Winner 1999 All England Open Tony Gunawan Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 15–7, 15–5 Winner 1999 Malaysia Open Tony Gunawan Eng Hian Flandy Limpele 15–6, 15–11 Winner 1999 Singapore Open Tony Gunawan Choong Tan Fook Lee Wan Wah 7–15, 15–14, 12–15 Runner-up 1999 Indonesia Open Tony Gunawan Rexy Mainaky Ricky Subagja 12–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1999 World Grand Prix Finals Tony Gunawan Ha Tae-kwon Kim Dong-moon 15–7, 8–15, 15–11 Winner 2000 Chinese Taipei Open Tony Gunawan Cheah Soon Kit Yap Kim Hock 15–7, 15–7 Winner 2000 Japan Open Tony Gunawan Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 15–6, 15–7 Winner 2000 Indonesia Open Tony Gunawan Eng Hian Flandy Limpele 14–17, 15–8, 15–8 Winner 2000 World Grand Prix Finals Tony Gunawan Sigit Budiarto Halim Haryanto 7–5, 8–6, 7–2 Winner 2001 All England Open Sigit Budiarto Tony Gunawan Halim Haryanto 13–15, 15–7, 7–15 Runner-up 2001 Japan Open Sigit Budiarto Martin Lundgaard Hansen Lars Paaske 15–7, 15–11 Winner 2001 Malaysia Open Sigit Budiarto Tony Gunawan Halim Haryanto 7–4, 4–7, 7–2, 2–7, 7–5 Winner 2001 Indonesia Open Sigit Budiarto Tony Gunawan Halim Haryanto 7–2, 7–3, 7–5 Winner 2001 Singapore Open Sigit Budiarto Tony Gunawan Halim Haryanto 7–5, 3–7, 2–7, 0–7 Runner-up 2002 Chinese Taipei Open Bambang Suprianto Ha Tae-kwon Kim Dong-moon 15–9, 13–15, 3–15 Runner-up 2003 All England Open Sigit Budiarto Lee Dong-soo Yoo Yong-sung 15–5, 15–7 Winner 2003 Denmark Open Halim Haryanto Ha Tae-kwon Kim Dong-moon 17–16, 6–15, 8–15 Runner-up 2004 China Open Sigit Budiarto Chew Choon Eng Choong Tan Fook Walkover Winner 2005 Korea Open Sigit Budiarto Jens Eriksen Martin Lundgaard Hansen 15–7, 13–15, 13–15 Runner-up 2005 Swiss Open Sigit Budiarto Eng Hian Flandy Limpele 8–15, 15–11, 15–11 Winner 2005 Japan Open Sigit Budiarto Jens Eriksen Martin Lundgaard Hansen 10–15, 3–15 Runner-up 2005 Singapore Open Sigit Budiarto Mathias Boe Carsten Mogensen 8–15, 15–8, 15–7 Winner 2005 Malaysia Open Sigit Budiarto Cai Yun Fu Haifeng 15–11, 17–14 Winner 2005 Indonesia Open Sigit Budiarto Markis Kido Hendra Setiawan 10–15, 15–12, 3–15 Runner-up 2005 China Open Sigit Budiarto Jens Eriksen Martin Lundgaard Hansen 17–16, 11–15, 15–13 Winner 2006 Korea Open Tony Gunawan Hwang Ji-man Lee Jae-jin 21–18, 21–18 Winner 2006 Indonesia Open Tony Gunawan Markis Kido Hendra Setiawan 21–11, 21–16 Winner 2006 Japan Open Tony Gunawan Koo Kien Keat Tan Boon Heong 21–15, 21–14 Winner 2008 Chinese Taipei Open Tony Gunawan Mathias Boe Carsten Mogensen 14–21, 20–22 Runner-up
Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2001 Thailand Open Jo Novita Ronne Maykel Runtolalu Eny Widiowati 8–6, 7–1, 8–7 Winner BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament BWF & IBF Grand Prix tournament
IBF International (1 title) Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1994 Polish Open Ade Sutrisna Kenneth Jonassen Jan Jørgensen 11–15, 15–8, 15–8 Winner
Invitational tournaments Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref1997Copenhagen Masters Tony Gunawan Simon Archer Chris Hunt15–13, 15–8 Winner1999Ipoh Masters Tony Gunawan Flandy Limpele Eng Hian15–11, 15–9 Winner2003Copenhagen Masters Halim Haryanto Lars Paaske Jonas Rasmussen15–11, 15–4 Winner
Performance timeline
National team Senior level Team events 1997 2001 SEA Games Gold Silver
Team events 1998 2002 Asian Games Gold Silver
Team events 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Thomas Cup Gold Gold Gold Bronze Bronze Bronze
Individual competitions Senior level Event 1997 2001 SEA Games Gold (MD) Gold (XD) Gold
Event 1997 1999 2000 World Grand Prix Finals Gold Gold Gold
Event 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2006 2007 World Championships Gold QF R2 Silver Silver A QF
Event 2000 Olympic Games Gold