Taufik grabs Singapore Open in comeback<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Although having just recovered from injuries and
\npoor results in the first half of the year, Indonesia's Taufik
\nHidayat proved he remains a shuttler to be reckoned with by
\ngrabbing the men's singles title at the US$120,000 Sunrise-Yonex
\nSingapore Open on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Reigning world champions Tony Gunawan and Halim Haryanto
\ncompleted a sweep in the men's events as they won the doubles
\nafter beating compatriots Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto.<\/p>\n
Taufik, ranked No. 5 in the world, defeated Malaysian Wong
\nChoong Han, seeded nine in the event, 7-5, 0-7, 7-1, 1-7, 7-4 in
\nan energy-sapping match that served well as a test of skill and
\nendurance for the Indonesian youth.<\/p>\n
For the victory, third-seeded Taufik won a $9,600 purse, while
\nWong was $4,800 richer. Taufik had not won a tournament since the
\nJVC Asian Badminton Championships last November held in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Taufik had been out of competition after the Seville, Spain
\nSudirman Cup and World Championships that ended in June, due to
\ninjuries.<\/p>\n
The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) laid more
\nburdens on Taufik by terminating the contract of his coach, Mulyo
\nHandoyo, following the Seville outing. Taufik is training by
\nhimself most of the time at the Indonesian Badminton Center in
\nCipayung, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
After the match, Taufik said he dedicated his victory to
\nMulyo.<\/p>\n
\"This was my first tournament without my coach. I was still in
\ncontact by telephone and took his advice,\" he said, as quoted by
\nAFP.<\/p>\n
Wong was gracious in defeat.<\/p>\n
\"I think it was a very close match, but the better player of
\nthe day won. I am glad I made it this far as I have not been
\ndoing so well recently,\" Wong told the news agency.<\/p>\n
The men's singles final was the only one that pit shuttlers
\nfrom different countries against each other.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has held a firmer grip in the men's doubles event,
\nwinning the title in every tournament in which it has taken part
\nthis year except for the Korean Open and the Swiss Open. This
\ntime around top seeds Tony and Halim emerged the champions at the
\nexpense of Candra and Sigit, the 1997 world champions.<\/p>\n
Losing the opening game 5-7, Tony and Halim managed to regroup
\nto sweep the remaining games 7-3, 7-2, 7-0.<\/p>\n
It was the second title for Tony in as many weeks as he won
\nthe World Badminton Grand Prix Finals in Brunei with Candra.<\/p>\n
Tony and Halim shared the winner's $8,640 cash prize, with
\nCandra and Sigit pocketing $4,800.<\/p>\n
This year Tony and Halim also won the All England, the World
\nChampionships and the Singapore Open, while Candra and Sigit were
\ntriumphant in the Japan Open, the Malaysian Open and the
\nIndonesian Open.<\/p>\n
China also collected two titles by winning the women's singles
\nand doubles events through all-Chinese finals.<\/p>\n
Fifth seed Zhang Ning defeated compatriot Dai Yun, seeded
\nsixth in the event, with a 7-1, 4-7, 7-1, 1-7, 7-0 victory. Zhang
\ntook home $8,280 while Dai bagged $3,960.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the women's doubles, top seeds Wei Yili and
\nZhang Jiewen defeated the unseeded pair of Zhang Yawen and Zhao
\nTingting 8-6, 7-3, 7-4. The winners got $7,320 while the runners-
\nup fetched $4,800.<\/p>\n
It was an all-Danish final in the mixed doubles, with the pair
\nof Jens Erikssen and Mette Schjoldager defeating second seeds
\nMichael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen 7-2, 4-7, 7-5, 7-5. (nvn)<\/p>",
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