Taufik grabs Singapore Open in comeback
JAKARTA (JP): Although having just recovered from injuries and poor results in the first half of the year, Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat proved he remains a shuttler to be reckoned with by grabbing the men's singles title at the US$120,000 Sunrise-Yonex Singapore Open on Sunday.
Reigning world champions Tony Gunawan and Halim Haryanto completed a sweep in the men's events as they won the doubles after beating compatriots Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto.
Taufik, ranked No. 5 in the world, defeated Malaysian Wong Choong Han, seeded nine in the event, 7-5, 0-7, 7-1, 1-7, 7-4 in an energy-sapping match that served well as a test of skill and endurance for the Indonesian youth.
For the victory, third-seeded Taufik won a $9,600 purse, while Wong was $4,800 richer. Taufik had not won a tournament since the JVC Asian Badminton Championships last November held in Jakarta.
Taufik had been out of competition after the Seville, Spain Sudirman Cup and World Championships that ended in June, due to injuries.
The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) laid more burdens on Taufik by terminating the contract of his coach, Mulyo Handoyo, following the Seville outing. Taufik is training by himself most of the time at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.
After the match, Taufik said he dedicated his victory to Mulyo.
"This was my first tournament without my coach. I was still in contact by telephone and took his advice," he said, as quoted by AFP.
Wong was gracious in defeat.
"I think it was a very close match, but the better player of the day won. I am glad I made it this far as I have not been doing so well recently," Wong told the news agency.
The men's singles final was the only one that pit shuttlers from different countries against each other.
Indonesia has held a firmer grip in the men's doubles event, winning the title in every tournament in which it has taken part this year except for the Korean Open and the Swiss Open. This time around top seeds Tony and Halim emerged the champions at the expense of Candra and Sigit, the 1997 world champions.
Losing the opening game 5-7, Tony and Halim managed to regroup to sweep the remaining games 7-3, 7-2, 7-0.
It was the second title for Tony in as many weeks as he won the World Badminton Grand Prix Finals in Brunei with Candra.
Tony and Halim shared the winner's $8,640 cash prize, with Candra and Sigit pocketing $4,800.
This year Tony and Halim also won the All England, the World Championships and the Singapore Open, while Candra and Sigit were triumphant in the Japan Open, the Malaysian Open and the Indonesian Open.
China also collected two titles by winning the women's singles and doubles events through all-Chinese finals.
Fifth seed Zhang Ning defeated compatriot Dai Yun, seeded sixth in the event, with a 7-1, 4-7, 7-1, 1-7, 7-0 victory. Zhang took home $8,280 while Dai bagged $3,960.
Meanwhile, in the women's doubles, top seeds Wei Yili and Zhang Jiewen defeated the unseeded pair of Zhang Yawen and Zhao Tingting 8-6, 7-3, 7-4. The winners got $7,320 while the runners- up fetched $4,800.
It was an all-Danish final in the mixed doubles, with the pair of Jens Erikssen and Mette Schjoldager defeating second seeds Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen 7-2, 4-7, 7-5, 7-5. (nvn)