Taufik, Hendrawan ousted from All England 1st round
Taufik, Hendrawan ousted from All England 1st round
Agencies, Birmingham, England
Two famous names fell at the first hurdle at the All-England championships, leaving Indonesian head coach Christian Hadinata with early headaches.
Christian, twice a winner of the world's oldest and most prestigious open tournament, had to sit and watch while his compatriots, world champion Hendrawan and twice All-England finalist Taufik Hidayat, both went out.
Hendrawan's chances of even starting a defense of his title in the same arena here in three months time are deteriorating after a 15-13, 12-15,15-7 loss to Yawn Wiratama of Hongkong.
This meant the man who not so long ago ruled the world had failed even to survive the qualifying competition.
Hendrawan has only once progressed as far as the quarter- finals since his career-best triumph 20 months ago in Seville.
Taufik's future, which once looked to be the brightest in the sport, also remains in doubt after appearing a long way short of his fastest movement in a first round defeat. His heavily bandaged right knee looked to be hampering him.
He was beaten 15-11,15-9 by Dicky Palyama, the former European junior champion from The Netherlands with Indonesian parentage, who was only briefly headed, at 6-8 in the second game.
"I've been told I need an operation on the knee, but I don't want to have it," admitted Hidayat. "I'm afraid to have it."
Meanwhile the top-seeded men's singles titleholder from China, Chen Hong, had to come back from 3-7 in the second game before winning 15-7, 15-8 against the South Korean qualifier, Park Sung- Hwan.
Injured European and ex-world champion Peter Rasmussen of Denmark has pulled out of the All England badminton tournament which starts in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The number seven seed, who has a history of injury since winning his world crown in Glasgow in 1997, was troubled again by his left ankle at the Danish national championships last weekend.
Danish team manager Steen Pedersen said: "It has been niggling him for the last month and when it bothers him it affects his confidence. He tried it but then decided it was best not to risk making it worse. He hopes to be okay for the Swiss Open next week."
Rasmussen is the second big name missing from the five-day tournament, held a month earlier than usual this year to dovetail with the world championships being staged at the same National Indoor Arena venue in May.
India's Pullela Gopichand, All England winner in 2001, is also out, still recovering from keyhole surgery on his right knee.
All England champion Chen Hong of China faces a tricky path if he is to reach Sunday's final.
The 23-year-old top seed is set to meet newly-crowned Malaysian national champion Lee Chong Wei in the second round before a last 16 clash with either compatriot and ninth seed Bao Chunlai, or 1999 All England champion Peter Gade.
The Dane, one of the few Europeans to persistently challenge Chinese and Indonesian dominance, is on the comeback trail after a prolonged absence with a knee cartilage injury.
Number two seed, China Open champion Wong Choong Hann, has a rather easier journey to the semi-finals, but then faces a likely meeting with compatriot Xia Xuanze, the 2000 All England champion,
In the women's singles, China also hold a strong hand, headed by 22-year-old world champion Gong Ruina, petite but powerful.
Denmark's Camilla Martin took the title last year after beating four Chinese in succession. The draw has been a little kinder this time round but from the quarter-finals onwards European faces look sure to be thin on the ground.