Taufik, Lidya take Indonesia Open
By Primastuti Handayani
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Emerging champion Taufik Hidayat and veteran Lidya Djaelawidjaja served up the men's and women's singles titles for Indonesia at the US$150,000 Sanyo Indonesia Open on Sunday.
Taufik, 18, overcame compatriot Budi Santoso in a hard-fought 17-14, 15-12 victory at Yuwana Mandala Stadium. Taufik, who lost to eventual champion Yong Hock Kin of Malaysia in last year's semifinals, was firmly supported by the nearly 2,000 spectators.
With the top Chinese and South Korean players giving the tournament a miss, Indonesian players swept all of the events with the exception of the women's doubles.
Taufik said he proved his mental and physical tenacity with the victory after an event-packed season, including a loss last week to Hariyanto Arbi in the Singapore final.
"Actually I feel exhausted after four competitions in a row, but I proved to the Badminton Association of Indonesia that I could compete in the Southeast Asian Games, the Singapore Open and the Indonesia Open," Taufik said.
"I won two gold medals in the Games, reached the final in Singapore and won the Indonesia Open. I wanted to prove that I can compete in two tournaments in a row."
He showed his mettle in beating Budi, also the losing finalist last year.
"I had to win this tournament because last week I lost in the final in Singapore. In the semifinals, I had really hoped that I would meet Hendrawan instead of Hariyanto because I just lost to Hariyanto and the time is too short. I wasn't prepared to meet him again here."
Taufik received $12,000 and Budi collected $6,000. Taufik also was named the best male player in the tournament and earned a Rp 5 million ($640) bonus from sponsor Enervon C. He also collected Rp 10 million from Aqua as the most promising player.
Showing her quarterfinal victory over top seeded Camilla Martin was no fluke, Lidya beat compatriot Ellen Angelina 11-8, 9-11, 11-2.
The victory fulfilled her ambition to take her second Grand Prix title after seven years at the Indonesian Badminton Center, where she was long overshadowed by the now semiretired Susi Susanti and Mia Audina, who recently moved to the Netherlands.
Playing aggressively from the outset, Lidya controlled the match tempo with offensive lobs and smashes.
"I was very nervous in the beginning because I always lose to her in our simulation matches. This time I wanted to take revenge and, besides, the prize money is big enough," Lidya said with a smile.
Best player
Lidya won $10,350 and Ellen received $4,950. Lydia also was named best women's player, receiving Rp 5 million from Enervon C, and an equal amount from Axalan as the tournament's most dynamic player.
"Ellen is a very tough player and I tried really hard not to make unforced errors despite the wind on the court."
Lidya, who aims to lift her world ranking from 16 to 10 by the end of this year, acknowledged her victory was undermined by the absence of top Chinese, South Korean and Japanese players.
"I usually lose to the Chinese and their absence apparently gave me an advantage in winning. But I hope my win here will give me more confidence in every match so that I also will have the chance to be a champion," said the 25-year-old player.
In the mixed doubles, the longtime partnership of Tri Kusherjanto and Minarti Timur won their fifth consecutive title in the tournament by defeating teammates Bambang Suprianto and Zelin Resiana 15-3, 15-4.
Tri and Minarto pocketed $9,150 while Bambang and Zelin earned $6,000.
In the women's doubles, Denmark's Helene Kirkgaard and Olsen spoilt Indonesia's party by beating Elysa Nathanael and Deyana Lomban 15-12, 15-7.
In the all-Indonesian men's doubles final, veterans Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky beat the top seeds Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan 15-12, 15-8.