CHUNLAI DERAILS TAUFIK’S MISSION

Yet again, Taufik Hidayat failed in his mission to secure his first Super Series title since detaching himself from the Indonesian national training centre and going on his own. He had his best opportunity at the Japan Open over the weekend where the likes of Lin Dan, Chen Jin and Chong Wei were not around to stop him from the target. The Chinese hotshots had stayed away from the tournament while Chong Wei was shown the exit in an unexpected upset at the hands of Simon Santoso earlier in the championship. With only Bao Chunlai to get past, Taufik froze at the final hurdle and was bundled out quite tamely, 21-15, 21-12.

So it is back to the drawing board for the former World and Olympic Champion. But with age against him and the resurgence of a younger set of players from China, Thailand and Vietnam, his task ahead is not envious. But the ‘Old War Horse’ is never known to throw in his towel.

Against Chunlai at the Japan Open, there were times Taufik had his younger opponent completely mesmerized; fitness probably restricted his ability to maintain a consistently high level of play. But the fact will remain that Taufik lost to a player who probably tuned in one of his best performances on the afternoon that mattered. Chunlai was a losing finalist in 2004.

China did not seem overly excited about the Japan Open, variously considered one of the foremost of the Super Series legs, with a scaled-down involvement. But still, it was able to take home three titles, including the ladies ‘double’.

Petite Wang Yihan picked up her fifth title of the season winning a clinical demolition of teammate Wang Xin. The presence of two young Chinese girls underlined the strength of the back-up players to take over from the present aging squad. Up to the Japan Open, Yihan had picked up the All England, German, Swiss and Macau Championships.

The Ladies Doubles match-up between Wang Xiaoli & Ma Jin and Japan’s Miyuki Maeda & Satoko Suetsuna provided some excellent badminton. The pairs were very closely matched with the Chinese girls edging home 21-18, 21-19 for the gold medal.

Markis Kido & Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia played out an exciting duel against their  junior and inexperienced teammates Yonathan Dasuki & Rian Sukmawan 21-19, 24-22 to capture Men Doubles championship.

Thailand’s Mixed Doubles pairing of Songphon Anugraitaywon & Kunchala Voravichitchaikul were the surprise 13-21, 21-16, 22-20 winners over the favoured Fisher Neilsen & Christina Pedersen of Denmark

RESULTS  -  JAPAN OPEN 2009

MEN SINGLES

Boa Chunlai