Taufik wants to save steam for world c'ships
By Primastuti Handayani
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (JP): With the Sudirman Cup starting on Monday, Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat has objected to playing more than twice in the competition, saying he must also concentrate on preparing for the World Championships.
"With only two men's singles in our team, I and Hendrawan will share the task of facing Malaysia or China in the round-robin," he told reporters on Saturday over lunch.
Indonesia brought only Taufik and Hendrawan for the Sudirman Cup, scheduled from May 10 to May 15, based on their performances in two simulations late last month. Budi Santoso and Hariyanto Arbi, who will leave Jakarta on May 13, will play only in the World Championships from May 16 to May 23.
World No. 10 Taufik said he might have trouble beating the Malaysians if he was fielded in Indonesia's first match against Malaysia on Tuesday.
"Malaysian players have stronger defense and offense than the Chinese," he said.
Taufik, who is competing in a team event for the second time, lost to Malaysian Roslin Hashim in the 1998 Asian Games team event semifinals. He also lost to another Malaysian, Yong Hock Kin, in the 1998 Indonesian Open.
Taufik said he would prefer to meet China's Dong Jiong, world No. 15, rather than world No. 2 Sun Jun.
"I still lead 2-1 over Dong as I beat him twice in the 1998 Brunei Open and the Asian Championships and lost once in the Asiad individual quarterfinals. I have never met Sun before."
"Dong tends to attack, which enables me to break his defense, while Sun moves faster, his offense is sharper and he has difficult balls," he said.
However, Taufik said that if China fields Sun then Hendrawan should play him.
In the Asian Games, Hendrawan beat Sun twice in the team event and individual semifinals.
Hendrawan, world No. 8, said: "I thought Budi was going with us but apparently the officials had other opinions. I had to fight only with Taufik."
The 26-year-old shuttler said he was ready to compete for two consecutive weeks.
Agus Dwi Santoso, Hendrawan and Budi's coach, said: "Based on past percentages and our strategy against other countries, Hendrawan and Taufik are enough for the Sudirman Cup."
In last month's simulation, Taufik beat Hendrawan and Budi, world No. 3, while Hendrawan defeated Hariyanto.
Difficult
Taufik predicted that Indonesia would meet South Korea in the semifinals.
"I think it will be difficult for host Denmark to defeat Korea. If I have to meet the Koreans, I think I can handle it."
South Korea will likely bring only its two men's singles: Ahn Jae-chang, world No. 37, and Park Tae-sang, world No. 70.
The Indonesian team members, who are staying at the Karlsrunde Folkeferie, started practice on Friday evening at Brondby Hall.
Twenty national players, who arrived here on Friday morning, conducted a light training session in a five-court hall next to the stadium. They were scheduled to try the main court on Saturday evening.
Deputy team managers Hadi Nasri and Christian Hadinata said there were no problems with the players.
"So far, they are fine. We hope they won't get sick or injured as the championships are getting closer," Hadi said.
To keep the Indonesians' energy levels up while abroad, two cooks are available to prepare the national shuttlers' meals.
The Chinese and Korean teams are also staying at the same hotel with Indonesia. Neither teams were available for interviews when approached by Indonesian reporters .