Taufik, Nova/Lilyana lift world titles
Taufik, Nova/Lilyana lift world titles
Agencies, Anaheim, California
A supremely confident Taufik Hidayat realized a dream and made history as national players took two of the five crowns on offer at the IBF World Championships on Sunday.
After being shut out of the medals at Birmingham in 2003, the tally of two golds, one silver (men's doubles) and one bronze (men's doubles) was Indonesia's best showing at the badminton worlds since 2001.
As well as Taufik in the men's singles and Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir in the mixed doubles, Indonesia could also count another win of sorts in the men's doubles.
Indonesian-born Tony Gunawan and Howard Bach, seeded 13, teamed to take the host's first ever world title, upsetting second seeded Indonesians Sigit Budiarto and Candra Wijaya in a thrilling 15-11, 10-15, 15-11 final contest.
California-based Tony was the 2001 world champion for Indonesia with Halim Haryanto, as he faced off against Candra, his partner in winning the 2000 Olympic gold.
It was a great day for sixth seeded Taufik, who showed he is the best player in the world when he puts his mind to it and keeps his temper under control.
The Athens Olympic champion ruthlessly dismantled the game of a surprisingly subdued Lin Dan, the world number one and overwhelming favorite, in a 15-3, 15-7 victory in 36 minutes.
The 24 year old from Bandung slumped to his knees and cupped his head in his hands after achieving his dream to become the first man to hold the Olympic and world titles at the same time.
"I am very fortunate and grateful," Taufik told Agence France- Presse. "All of my targets of winning the prestigious tournaments have been achieved."
Lin, who blamed a slow start and a draft from the stadium's air conditioning for his loss, failed in his attempt to beat the top-seed jinx at the worlds -- only two top seeds have won the men's title since the first worlds in 1977.
Fourth seeded Nova, 27, and Lilyana, who turns 20 in September, rallied to overcome China's Xie Zhongbo and Zhang Yawen 13-15, 15-8, 15-2 in 80 minutes. It was Indonesia's first mixed doubles world title since Christian Hadinata and Imelda Wiguna triumphed in Jakarta in 1980.
"We tried to keep up our game and play the points one by one," Nova told Star Sports after defeating the 13th seeds.
With the defeat of Lin and the mixed doubles pair, it was a disappointing day for pre-tournament favorite Chinese, who were seeded first in three of the five events.
They picked up just one gold on the final day when Xie Xingfang beat defending world and Olympic champion Zhang Ning 11- 8, 9-11, 11-3 in an all-Chinese women's singles final.