Shuttler Taufik named as top seed for Olympics

Shuttler Taufik named as top seed for Olympics

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian teen idol Taufik Hidayat was named by
the International Badminton Federation (IBF) on Wednesday as the
top seed in the men's singles for the Olympic Games in Sydney.

The 19-year-old shuttler, the current world number one, will
face tough challenges from compatriot Hendrawan, who was named as
second seeded, third seed Dane Peter Gade Christensen and fourth
seed Xia Xuanze.

Malaysian Wong Choon Hann and defending champion Poul-Erik
Hoyer-Larsen were seeded fifth and sixth respectively.

Meanwhile, another Indonesian qualifier Marlev Mainaky was
seeded eighth after seventh seed Ji Xinpeng of China.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) and the National
Sports Council (KONI) expect Indonesian shuttlers to win two gold
medals in the men's singles and doubles events.

Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan were named the top seeds in the
doubles as they are the current world number one pairing. But
teammates Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian, who are number two in the
world, were only seeded in third place.

Another Indonesian duo, Ricky Subagdja and Rexy Mainaky, were
seeded sixth. The pair won the 1996 gold in Atlanta, Georgia.

The South Korean pairing of Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung
were seeded second while teammates Kim Dong-moon and Ha Tae-kwon
were seeded fourth.

In the women's singles, China had three of its shuttlers in
the top four. Gong Zhichao was top seed followed by Camilla
Martin of Denmark and the other Chinese girls Dai Yun and Ye
Zhaoying.

Mia Audina, Indonesia-born but playing for the Netherlands,
was seeded fifth followed by Kim Ji-hyun and Lee Kyung-won of
South Korea and Yasuko Mizui of Japan. Neither of the Indonesian
shuttlers -- Lidya Djaelawidjaja and Ellen Angelinawaty -- were
seeded.

In the women's doubles, the world number one and world
champion pairing of Ge Fei and Gu Jun of China remained on the
top spot followed by teammates Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei.

Indonesians Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta were seeded
eighth.

In the mixed doubles, Tri Kusharjanto and Minarti Timur were
seeded number one followed by Kim Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min of
South Korea, Liu Yong and Ge Fei of China and Michael Sogaard and
Rikke Olsen of Denmark. (yan)