RI legend Taufik wins Indonesia Open
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau
The decision to skip the Singapore Open paid dividends for Taufik Hidayat, as the Indonesian star put on an impressive performance throughout to win his first title of the season at the Indonesia Open here on Sunday.
In front of a sell-out crowd at the 4,000-seat Temenggung Abdul Jamal Indoor Hall, Taufik dominated China's Chen Hong, who came into the tournament fresh off his Singapore Open championship. The Indonesian won the match 15-9, 15-9 in a replay of last year's men's singles final in Surabaya.
"I stayed away from the Singapore Open because I was not ready for the competition. I thought it was better for me to prepare for the Indonesia Open," said the 22-year-old during a post-match press conference.
It was the fourth Indonesia Open title for Taufik, who also won the event in 1999, 2000 and 2002. The Indonesian had to walk a difficult road for this championship, beating three Chinese players along the way, including Bao Chun Lai and Wu Yunyong en route to the final.
"I became more confident about winning the tournament after I defeated Bao. When I came into the tournament and saw the draw, it was Bao who I was cautious about. I always have problems with left-handed players like him. After I beat Bao, my coach said I had a good chance for the title," he said.
Taufik, who is still looking for major titles at the Olympics, the All England and the World Championships, saw his head-to-head record against Chen improve to 5-0.
Apart from Chen's disappointment, the Chinese team remained the dominant force at the tournament, winning three of the five titles on offer. They had the opportunity to make a clean sweep of the tournament, with players in all five of the finals.
South Korea stole another medal from the Chinese with the mixed doubles victory of Kim Dong-moon/Ra Kyung Min.
World champions Kim/Ra lost the opening set to the Chinese pair of Zhang Jun/Gao Ling 10-15, before taking the next two sets 15-11, 15-6. This was the Koreans' fourth title this year, after the Korean Open, the World Championships and the Singapore Open.
Zheng Bo and Sang Yang opened the Chinese title feast with a remarkable performance in the men's doubles to defeat Pramote Teerawiwatana/Tesana Panvisvas of Thailand 16-17, 17-15, 15-5.
The victory could have gone to the Thais had they not suffered an abrupt lapse of concentration in the second set. The Thais, who stopped Indonesians Candra Wijaya/Halim Haryanto in the semifinals, were one set up and cruising to victory with a 13-7 and 14-10 lead in the second set, only to fall apart and allow the Chinese back into the game.
The third set saw the Thais completely off their game as Panvisvas, a usually decisive player, hitting inaccurate shot after inaccurate shot.
Hong Kong's title hopes were dashed when Wang Chen failed to hang on in her women's singles match against Xie Xingfang, who won 11-5, 8-11, 11-1. Wang also lost in the finals of the 2001 tournament.
Gao Ling/Huang Sui of China defended their Indonesia Open women's doubles title without swinging a rackets, as compatriots Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen withdrew because of a back injury suffered by Yang.
A day earlier, Yang said the injury nagged her when the two pairs faced off in the semifinals of the World Championships in Birmingham in July.
The eventual champions Gao/Huang won that match in July, but the course of the game prompted the International Badminton Federation to reprimand Yang, who was charged with bringing the game into disrepute for allegedly not giving her best effort.
At a press conference on Friday, Yang denied the allegation and said she had been playing with an injury. The two pairs also met in the final of the Singapore Open, which was won by Yang/Zhang.