Taufik Hidayat (left) of Indonesia celebrated the rare distinction of winning successive gold medals in men singles at the Asian Games. Four years ago in Busan, he took the gold from the Korean challenger Lee Hyun Il and last week in Doha, he laid to rest all doubts about being a spent force by outpacing, outthinking and outscoring the red-hot favourite Lin Dan to deprive China of an almost certain gold.

It had been reported that Taufik had the Asian Games gold as his priority for 2006.  He appeared in six major tournaments this year, winning only the Indonesian Open. He was placed variously at the China, Japan, Korea, Macau and the World Championships. Even during the team events in Doha, he scarcely displayed his hidden potential. He had probably saved the best for last and saved it for Lin Dan, most times his nemesis.

On the night that mattered, the Indonesian ace was simply mesmerizing and played the last few points in the second game like a true champion he is. He refused the Chinese world no.1 the cushion of a ‘rubber’ and a possible look at the gold medal.

The two gold medals China won – women's doubles (right) and the mixed event – is a far cry from the expected four. Even if it had to be just two medals, the Chinese would have joyously swapped those two for the two they missed – gold medals in the blue riband events of any championship – the singles.

Having both their gold medal potentials Zhang Ning and Xie Xingfang eliminated from the finals in the women's singles must have been a painful experience. Memory does not recall an instance where these two girls had to play the role of spectators in a major tournament they had participated in.

Four years ago, China failed in the men’s singles but atoned with a gold and silver in the women's singles through Zhou Mi and Gong Ruina. Ironically the bronze medalist then was Wang Chen (left) who became the golden girl in Doha.

Wang Chen’s was, of course assisted to her first Asian gold medal by the fact that she had only to get past her good friend and teammate Yip Pui Yin in the final. Yip had taken care of Hwang Hye Youn of Korea in the last four and Zhang Ning had fallen by the wayside in the quarter-final. It was the island’s first ‘double’ success in any major multi-event sports carnival.

Malaysia celebrated a rare gold in Doha and it came through the stratch combination of Koo Kien Kiet and Tan Boon Heong (right). Boon Heong was in fact standing in for Koo's regular partner Chan Chong Ming. Their win over Luluk and Alvent was not expected but the scoreline of 21/13, 21/14 does confirm that on the night that mattered, the young Malaysians rose to the occasion and brought in the first doubles gold in 26 years!

Doha provided the backdrop to some exciting and inspiring badminton and happy memories. Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore were some of the beneficiaries of the success stories coming outof the Qatar capital. The sport itself made huge inroads into a nation that is not particularly aligned to badminton. The appreciable spectator interest was a welcome relief to the organisers.

Attachments
Asian Games Doha 2006 Individual Events Full Results.xls
Asian Games Doha 2006_Team Events Result.xls