Hidayat, along with others such as China's world No1 Lee Chong Wei, have a profile in their home country which roughly equates to that of Simba at the end of the Lion King but the sport is failing in this country.
Since badminton's Olympic debut in 1992, Britain has won only two medals - Joanne Goode and Simon Archer claimed bronze in the mixed doubles in 2000 while Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms took silver four years later.
UK Sport cut their funding for badminton by £540,000 last December, reflecting a lack of optimism over Britain's medal chances at 2012.
Yesterday's elimination of Robertson with his partner on and off the court, Jenny Wallwork, as well as Britain's No1 singles player Rajiv Ouseph seems to vindicate that decision.
This is why the double boost of hosting the worlds, in England for the first time, a year before the sport's biggest event is crucial in invigorating interest in the game here.
This goes some way to explaining the pyrotechnics and amateur dramatics as players emerged from a mock 10 Downing Street entrance onto the courts to the sound of a thumping beat.
At 10am these gimmicks did seem slightly ludicrous but in fairness it probably sat better with the tourist targets watching on television in Asia than a sparse Wembley auditorium.
This summer's test events can lay down all the preparations and procedures that will be replicated in 12 months' time but in reality the strain a swell of people will have on the surrounding transport and arena will be as ephemeral as the sporting action of the Games itself.
I was one of only three on my Tube carriage as it pulled up at Wembley Park and not many more were in the venue when play started 40 minutes later.
It'll be very different 11 months from now.
My cynicism abated as the arena filled up throughout the day and in the end, 8,044 people passed the door, not too shabby really for a 'minority' sport.
After the first couple of hours the atmosphere was excellent, Badminton England have done a fine job, the show was well drilled and the sport of incredibly high standard.
Come next year, the place will be packed but with a lack of promising Brits you may need that Olympic spirit a little more than usual.
