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