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)