Taufik proves his worth, takes last gold for RI

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Busan, South Korea

Indonesian men's singles shuttler Taufik Hidayat proved that he was still the best in Asia, winning the Busan 2002 Asian Games singles title by defeating host player Lee Hyun-il 15-7, 15-9 at the Gangseo Gymnasium on Monday.

The world no. 14 Taufik personally suffered unfair decisions made by local linesman in his first singles match against Shon Seung-mo in which he lost in the men's team final last Wednesday.

Not only did he defeat Shon and Lee, Taufik was the only Indonesian shuttler to grab a gold medal.

The gold medal is Taufik's first major title during his career and is all the more meaningful as the badminton team was depending on him to win a gold medal.

Taufik's gold medal was unexpected as the only shuttlers expected to win gold medals were the men's team and the men's double or the mixed doubles team. But they failed to do so.

Halim Haryanto and Tri Kusheryanto only won a bronze medal after losing their semifinals match against a Thai pair. Mixed doubles pair of Nova Widhianto and Vita Marissa also only secured a bronze medal after being defeated by another Thai pair.

Hendrawan won another bronze medal when he was defeated by Lee in the semifinals.

"I am very proud that I won the gold medal even though we previously expected two gold medals," Taufik said after the match.

"I think I became used to being cheated after the team event final, and so I was able to keep a cool head."

Inaccurate and poor judgment happened again in the second game when Taufik was leading 9-8. With Lee holding the serve, a linesman called one of Lee's returns in even though it was clearly out.

The referee overruled the decision and Lee's serve was replayed.

Taufik conceded that he was under great pressure to win the match as he was the last hope for Indonesia to win a gold medal in badminton.

"There was great pressure indeed, but I also wanted to win because I represented other shuttlers.

"It seems that Lee had even greater pressure on him to win the match," he said.

Taufik said he had won twice against Shon and denied to count his defeat at the men's team final.

"Shon got too much help from the umpire and linesmen. But I beat him fairly in the individual semifinals," he said.

"The Koreans have never won the team's event title on home soil, besides the Seoul 1986 Asiad, which was also marred with unfairness and questionable decisions," he added.

Commenting on his final match, Taufik said Lee did not play the same as when he defeated Indonesian shuttler Hendrawan in the semifinals.

"Lee played extremely well against Hendrawan, but he failed to maintain it.

"I managed to keep the shuttlecock low because he would have managed more deadly attacks, just like when he beat Hendrawan," said Taufik.

The first game was tight in the opening, with each shuttler trailing each other's points. Taufik took the first point 1-0 to let Lee have a 3-1 lead. Taufik, however, managed to equalize 5- 5.

Taufik then stormed to a 14-5 lead before allowing Lee to earn two additional points. But Taufik's jumping smash ended the first game 15-7.

Entering the second game, again Taufik took the first point 1- 0 before Lee equalized 3-3 in a war of neat net placings. The net war continued 6-6 when Taufik left Lee 9-6, but Lee managed to catch up 9-8.

Lee again managed to equalize 9-9 before Taufik garnered more points under the support of die-hard Indonesian supporters, mostly Indonesian migrant workers here. Also present was Indonesian Ambassador to Seoul Abdul Ghani.

Taufik finished the game when he outsmarted Lee after the South Korean tried to engage in net play.

Safely securing the shuttlecock, Taufik sent it well behind a surprised Lee, who failed to reach the shuttlecock before it landed on his side of the court, for a 15-9 victory.

More important than his personal feud with local shuttlers, Taufik dedicated his victory to the victims of Saturday's bomb blast in Bali.

The blast at Paddy's discotheque in busy Legian, claimed the lives of at least 182 people and injured hundreds.

"I present this gold medal not only to my teammates and the Indonesian contingent, but also to the whole nation, and especially to the victims of the bomb blast in Bali," Taufik announced after the final match.