Defending champion Taufik just wants to enjoy the game
Latest News 11:20 AM
INDONESIAN Taufik Hidayat will find it difficult to win a
third consecutive Asian Games men’s singles gold medal in the presence
of a determined Lin Dan of China, a desperate Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia
and a dangerous darkhorse Park Sung-hwan of South Korea.
But he is certain to win hands down in one area – giving the crowd a delightful time with his beautiful game and funny antics on court.
During the team competition, he played the “court jester” and brought chuckles to the spectators by making funny faces, taking jibes at the linesmen and with his light banter against his opponents.
During one of the breaks, he showed off his talent by juggling the shuttlecock with his feet.
He also won the admiration and applause from the crowd whenever he hit his famously powerful back-handed smashes and deceptive slices.
The 2002 Busan and 2006 Doha Games singles champion said that he was enjoying the game “now that I am not under pressure from anyone ... not even myself”.
“I am having a good time here. There is no pressure and I just want everyone to enjoy the game too,” said Taufik.
“But that does not mean I do not want to do well in these Games. I will give my best in every match.”
He was pleased with the fight he put up before losing to Lin Dan 13-21, 21-23 in the first singles match of the semi-final tie, which Indonesia lost 0-3.
“I made minor mistakes despite taking a lead in the second game and, with Lin Dan, you cannot afford to do that. I am confident of my game,” said Taufik, who defeated Lin Dan in the 2006 final in Doha.
Taufik agreed that there could be pressure on Lin Dan and Chong Wei, who are out to win the Asiad men’s singles title for the first time.
“There is great home expectations on Lin Dan while Chong Wei succumbed to the pressure by losing in the team event (to Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana in the quarter-final tie),” he said.
“It will be interesting to find out who troops out as the winner.”
And, in jest, he reminded the media: “Do not forget to come and watch us.”
Taufik is in the same half of the draw as second seed Lin Dan and Sung-hwan.
Sung-hwan showed he was also a strong contender for the title after giving Lin Dan a hard time before losing 21-19, 16-21, 18-21 in the first singles of the team final on Monday.
Chong Wei has Boonsak, Chen Jin of China and SonyDwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in his half of the draw.
There was no men’s singles action on the opening day of the individual competition yesterday.
But he is certain to win hands down in one area – giving the crowd a delightful time with his beautiful game and funny antics on court.
During the team competition, he played the “court jester” and brought chuckles to the spectators by making funny faces, taking jibes at the linesmen and with his light banter against his opponents.
During one of the breaks, he showed off his talent by juggling the shuttlecock with his feet.
He also won the admiration and applause from the crowd whenever he hit his famously powerful back-handed smashes and deceptive slices.
The 2002 Busan and 2006 Doha Games singles champion said that he was enjoying the game “now that I am not under pressure from anyone ... not even myself”.
“I am having a good time here. There is no pressure and I just want everyone to enjoy the game too,” said Taufik.
“But that does not mean I do not want to do well in these Games. I will give my best in every match.”
He was pleased with the fight he put up before losing to Lin Dan 13-21, 21-23 in the first singles match of the semi-final tie, which Indonesia lost 0-3.
“I made minor mistakes despite taking a lead in the second game and, with Lin Dan, you cannot afford to do that. I am confident of my game,” said Taufik, who defeated Lin Dan in the 2006 final in Doha.
Taufik agreed that there could be pressure on Lin Dan and Chong Wei, who are out to win the Asiad men’s singles title for the first time.
“There is great home expectations on Lin Dan while Chong Wei succumbed to the pressure by losing in the team event (to Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana in the quarter-final tie),” he said.
“It will be interesting to find out who troops out as the winner.”
And, in jest, he reminded the media: “Do not forget to come and watch us.”
Taufik is in the same half of the draw as second seed Lin Dan and Sung-hwan.
Sung-hwan showed he was also a strong contender for the title after giving Lin Dan a hard time before losing 21-19, 16-21, 18-21 in the first singles of the team final on Monday.
Chong Wei has Boonsak, Chen Jin of China and SonyDwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in his half of the draw.
There was no men’s singles action on the opening day of the individual competition yesterday.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 11:20 AM.
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