Badminton sensation signs for Singapore

Gerard Wong, The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore

Indonesian teenage badminton sensation Taufik Hidayat took his first big step towards fulfilling his desire to play for Singapore when he landed at Changi Airport Thursday afternoon.

He then announced almost immediately that he would be signing a contract with the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) today.

Although many questions still remain unanswered about the nature of the 20-year-old shuttler's future involvement with the Singapore team - the result of new conditions that were recently imposed on Taufik's move to Singapore by the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) - he made one thing clear yesterday.

"I've been wanting to come here for a long time," he told reporters. "It has always been my intention to do so and I am happy to have done it finally."

Now it remains to be seen if the SBA and the Singapore Sports Council can shed light on the other lingering questions about his future.

For example, it is still unclear which country the two-time All-England finalist will represent eventually in international competitions.

Nor is it certain that the SBA will pay the transfer fee of up to US$40,000 that the PBSI is seeking for Taufik's release.

While the PBSI allows Taufik to don Singapore colors in individual tournaments, it has demanded that the world No. 11 continue to play for Indonesia in major team tournaments like the Thomas Cup.

PBSI secretary-general Lutfi Hamid had said earlier this week: "We want our best shuttlers to be ready to defend the country in events like the Thomas and Uber Cups and the Southeast Asia, Asian and Olympic Games."

However, if Taufik does continue to play for Indonesia in these events, he will be unable to represent Singapore in them in the future.

Under International Badminton Federation (IBF) residency rules, a player can only play for his new country after abstaining from representing his previous country for two years.

If that is so, then one wonders about Singapore's wisdom in recruiting him since he is unable to further Singapore's hopes in future Thomas or Sudirman Cup campaigns.

Taufik himself hinted at a possible answer but stopped short of giving a full reply.

"I will play in the Thomas Cup and in multisports games competitions like the Asian and SEA Games for Indonesia," he said.

"But I am not sure for how long."

The two SBA officials who received Taufik at Changi yesterday - national director of coaching Hamid Khan and national men's singles coach Mulyo Handoyo, who was Taufik's mentor in Indonesia - were also unable to shed light on the issues at hand.

SBA president Wang Kai Yuen and secretary Robin Chan were not at the airport yesterday.