Indonesian teenager Taufik makes All England history
Indonesian teenager Taufik makes All England history
BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters): Indonesian "wonderkid" Taufik
Hidayat, 17, created a slice of badminton history on Saturday
when he became the youngest player to reach the men's singles
final at the All England championships.
Taufik routed Olympic champion Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen 15-13
15-7 in another sensational performance after his elimination on
Friday of second seed Fung Permadi in the quarter-finals.
He trailed 6-0 in the first game and 4-0 in the second but
smashed his way back into contention to oust the veteran Dane,
now 33 but still a formidable proposition.
Taufik's opponent in Sunday's final will be world number one
and top seed Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark.
The Dane was not unduly troubled by top-rated Indonesian Budi
Santoso, triumphing 15-11 15-5.
Hidayat has been the revelation of the tournament and all his
precocious skills were on display against Hoyer-Larsen.
The youngster refused to get rattled when he trailed early on.
He smashed with great ferocity but mixed it with some wicked
disguise and phenomenal retrieving which had the Dane at full
stretch.
The pair traded shot for shot from 4-4 to 7-7 in the second
game but suddenly the Indonesian took control, reeling off the
last eight points to claim his final place.
Although little-known, Hidayat was seeded joint ninth on the
strength of some encouraging performances in the last eight
months which include a victory over Dong Jiong of China and
taking Gade, Sunday's rival, to three games.
The teenager said: "The All England has got to be my most
important target. I am very proud to be in the final here."
Taufik had apparently reacted to local press comment
suggesting he is too young at present for the big time. He
insisted: "Age does not matter."
Hoyer-Larsen said: "He is a good player. I knew it would be
difficult but I did fancy my chances."
The Dane had a tough quarter-final tussle with compatriot
Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen on Friday and acknowledged: "I didn't have
the power in my legs after yesterday's game to make him run round
the court."
Semifinals results (prefix denotes seeding):
Men's singles: 1-Peter Gade Christensen (Den) bt 3/4-Budi Santoso (Ina)
15-11 15-5; 9/16-Taufik Hidayat (Ina) bt 3/4-Poul Erik Hoyer-Larsen
(Den) 15-13 15-7