Taufik proves his worth, takes last gold for RI

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.