Taufik takes opener at Malaysian Open
Taufik takes opener at Malaysian Open
Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur
Taufik Hidayat, who captured last week's Singapore Open in grand style, was untroubled in his first round encounter in the Malaysian Open on Wednesday.
The Indonesian won 15-6, 15-9 over Simon Manoury of France, leading the list of seeded players into the second round.
The Athens Olympic gold medalist is aiming for back-to-back title wins after the Singapore Open last week to raise his world ranking to as high as number four ahead of the World Badminton Championships in Anaheim, California, next month.
Defending champion Lee Chong Wei, seeking a date with Taufik in the quarterfinals, beat Korean youngster Lee Cheol Ho 15-6, 17-15.
World number one Lin Dan also won but fellow Chinese world champion Xia Xuanze made an unceremonious early exit.
Xiz Xuanze, a semifinalist in last year's tournament, lost the second game 15-0 as he succumbed to crowd favorite and world number six, Malaysia's Hafiz Hashim, in a lopsided first-round encounter.
It was the latest misfortune to befall the 27-year-old Chinese player who now ranks a lowly 18th after poor form and injuries robbed him of a chance to defend his world title in California next month.
Showing fine courtcraft and relying on a patient game, Hafiz was in uncompromising mood as he carved his maiden victory over Xia with an emphatic 15-12, 15-0 win.
"I'm taking it step by step but I was pleased with my first win over Xuanze, considering the fact that I had never taken a set from him previously," he said.
"I was expecting a tougher encounter but it was clear that Xuanze was struggling with his fitness," said Hafiz, who will meet Vietnam's Nguyen Thien Minh in the second round Thursday.
The only upset in the men's singles was registered by Malaysian shuttler Yeoh Kay Bin who claimed Germany's Bjoern Joppien's scalp 15-8, 15-2.
Lin, who has won five of his last eight tournaments, began his campaign by defeating France's Erwin Kehlhoffner 15-7, 15-6 while number two seed Kenneth Jonassen from Denmark brushed aside Malaysian qualifier Law Yew Thien 15-5, 15-7.
Jonassen's compatriot and number three seed Peter Gade cleared his first Malaysian hurdle but not before being stretched by Lee Tsuen Seng. The Dane won 15-7, 10-15, 15-8.
"Lee played well today but I held my nerve. I'm looking forward to the second round where I will take on another Malaysian," Gade said, referring to Roslin Hashim.