Taufik, Xie grab titles at Asian badminton c'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian wonder boy Taufik Hidayat and Chinese new starlet Xie Xinfang grabbed the men's and women's singles titles respectively at the US$150,000 Asian Badminton Championships Sunday at the Senayan Indoor Stadium.

Taufik, being booed and wooed by about 9,000-spectators, had to pump up his energy to overcome teammate Rony Agustinus 14-17, 15-2, 15-3 in a match lasting nearly one hour.

"I'm glad that I could win today although the spectators didn't really like it. I just wanted to prove that I can still do my best after my defeat in the Olympics quarterfinals," world ranked five Taufik told a post-match conference.

Speaking on his defeat in the first game, Taufik said that he played carelessly.

"I rushed myself to take the first game as it is really important but instead I made unforced errors. But in the second and third games, Rony seemed to be losing his concentration and it was an anticlimax for him."

Rony, whose world ranking is above 100, said he lacked discipline in taking the points.

"I easily threw away chances to make points in the second and third games. My physical condition was also weaker because I had tough matches reaching the final," said Rony, who upset second seed Malaysian Wong Choon Hann in the quarterfinals and third seed Indonesian Marlev Mainaky in the semis.

Taufik pocketed $11,000 while Rony earned $7,500.

Chinese rookie Xie Xinfang took the women's singles title after outclassing Ellen Angelina of Indonesia 2-11, 11-7, 11-3.

Ellen, world ranked 25, had a comfortable win in the first game but in the second and third she failed to contest the towering 19-year-old Chinese player, whose height is 1.78m.

"Xie is typical of Chinese players with her fast and sharp shots. I was prepared but she played better in the second and third games, carefully and safely," Ellen said. "Earlier she played recklessly in the first game so I could win it easily."

Xie said: "I was nervous and my warming up wasn't enough. I made too many mistakes. Then I changed my strategy in the second and third games. I decided not to strike too much but to deliver my shots as fast as possible."

Xie said she was not disturbed by the crowd booing her.

"I just pretended the spectators were supporting me instead of her," said Xie who bagged $7,500.

Indonesia retained its dominance in the men's doubles when the new partnership of Tony Gunawan and Rexy Mainaky proved much too powerful for Malaysia's only hope Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook to win 15-8, 15-9.

The Indonesians earned $13,000 and the Malaysians $8,500.

Competing in his final appearance before a home crowd, Rexy received a modest farewell ceremony after the match.

Indonesia also earned another title in the mixed doubles when Bambang Supriyanto and Minarti Timur defeated top seeds Wahyu Agung and Emma Ermawati 15-10, 15-12.

South Korea won its only title thanks to women's doubles Lee Hyo-jung and Yim Kyung-jin who eliminated Indonesians Minarti Timur and Etty Tantri 15-8, 15-13 despite their three-day preparation. (nvn/yan)

Results

Men's singles: Taufik Hidayat (Ina) bt Rony Agustinus (Ina) 14-17, 15-2, 15-3

Women's singles: Xie Xinfang (Chn) bt Ellen Angelina (Ina) 2-11, 11-7, 11-3

Men's doubles: Tony Gunawan/Rexy Mainaky (Ina) bt Lee Wan Wah/Choong Tan Fook (Mal) 15-8, 15-9

Women's doubles: Lee Hyo-jung/Yim Kyung-jin (Kor) bt Etty Tantri/Minarti Timur (Ina) 15-8, 15-13

Mixed doubles: Bambang Supriyanto/Minarti Timur (Ina) bt Wahyu Agung/Emma Ermawati (Ina) 15-10, 15-12