IBF names Taufik player of the year

The International Badminton Federation chose Taufik Hidayat on Monday as the recipient of its Eddy Choong Player of the Year award for 2004.

The Athens gold medalist is only the second men's singles player and second Indonesian after doubles player Candra Wijaya in 2000 to gain the prestigious prize, named after the Malaysian badminton legend.

Apart from Olympic gold, Taufik, 23, took his second Asian Championship in April and swept the Indonesian Open for the fifth time in December. -- JP