Taufik wants to save steam for world c'ships
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 .