Hidayat, Lin show two sides of Team Asia

[ants]

TEAM Asia has two faces: Taufik Hidayat, the flashy crowd-darling, and Lin Dan, the steel-nerved lethal weapon.

About the only thing the two share -- aside from the side of the court they're on in the MVP Cup: Asia vs Europe badminton challenge -- is a long-standing rivalry.

"It's a great thing to be playing together (with Lin), this time for Asia," said the 23-year-old Hidayat, who just recently bowed to Lin in the Sudirman Cup singles finals in Jakarta.

With his fancy shots and uncanny ability to make placement shots off opponents' smashes, it wasn't too surprising why Hidayat, the reigning Olympic champion and world No. 8, has endeared himself to the Filipino crowd.

"I love this country [because] this is where I won my first title (1997 Asian juniors championships)," said the Indonesian, who overcame a pulled abdominal muscle to crush Denmark's Anders Boesen, 15-13, 15-4, Tuesday night.

Lin, the 21-year-old Thomas Cup and world champion, swears the Philippines
is also close to his heart. He was also in Manila where he, playing as a junior, upset Hidayat four years ago.

Still, it's a rare treat to have two of the most recognizable badminton stars, rivals at that, playing as teammates for a change.

"That makes this tournament special," said team manager Datuk Punch Gunalan. "We get to pool together the region's vast talent resource and put them on display on the world stage."

[genjyo]

TEAM Asia has two faces: Taufik Hidayat, the flashy crowd-darling, and Lin Dan, the steel-nerved lethal weapon.

About the only thing the two share -- aside from the side of the court they're on in the MVP Cup: Asia vs Europe badminton challenge -- is a long-standing rivalry.

"It's a great thing to be playing together (with Lin), this time for Asia," said the 23-year-old Hidayat, who just recently bowed to Lin in the Sudirman Cup singles finals in Jakarta.

With his fancy shots and uncanny ability to make placement shots off opponents' smashes, it wasn't too surprising why Hidayat, the reigning Olympic champion and world No. 8, has endeared himself to the Filipino crowd.

"I love this country [because] this is where I won my first title (1997 Asian juniors championships)," said the Indonesian, who overcame a pulled abdominal muscle to crush Denmark's Anders Boesen, 15-13, 15-4, Tuesday night.

Lin, the 21-year-old Thomas Cup and world champion, swears the Philippines
is also close to his heart. He was also in Manila where he, playing as a junior, upset Hidayat four years ago.

Still, it's a rare treat to have two of the most recognizable badminton stars, rivals at that, playing as teammates for a change.

"That makes this tournament special," said team manager Datuk Punch Gunalan. "We get to pool together the region's vast talent resource and put them on display on the world stage."


sorry, but i see Sudirman Cup was held in Beijing:)

[uluh dayak]

TEAM Asia has two faces: Taufik Hidayat, the flashy crowd-darling, and Lin Dan, the steel-nerved lethal weapon.

About the only thing the two share -- aside from the side of the court they're on in the MVP Cup: Asia vs Europe badminton challenge -- is a long-standing rivalry.

"It's a great thing to be playing together (with Lin), this time for Asia," said the 23-year-old Hidayat, who just recently bowed to Lin in the Sudirman Cup singles finals in Jakarta."

man, anyone who wrote this gotta give it a second thought.

[belfastnole2]

TEAM Asia has two faces: Taufik Hidayat, the flashy crowd-darling, and Lin Dan, the steel-nerved lethal weapon.

About the only thing the two share -- aside from the side of the court they're on in the MVP Cup: Asia vs Europe badminton challenge -- is a long-standing rivalry.

"It's a great thing to be playing together (with Lin), this time for Asia," said the 23-year-old Hidayat, who just recently bowed to Lin in the Sudirman Cup singles finals in Jakarta.

With his fancy shots and uncanny ability to make placement shots off opponents' smashes, it wasn't too surprising why Hidayat, the reigning Olympic champion and world No. 8, has endeared himself to the Filipino crowd.

"I love this country [because] this is where I won my first title (1997 Asian juniors championships)," said the Indonesian, who overcame a pulled abdominal muscle to crush Denmark's Anders Boesen, 15-13, 15-4, Tuesday night.

Lin, the 21-year-old Thomas Cup and world champion, swears the Philippines
is also close to his heart. He was also in Manila where he, playing as a junior, upset Hidayat four years ago.

Still, it's a rare treat to have two of the most recognizable badminton stars, rivals at that, playing as teammates for a change.

"That makes this tournament special," said team manager Datuk Punch Gunalan. "We get to pool together the region's vast talent resource and put them on display on the world stage."
and xia is the world champion not lin at least for now:)

[Neosakai]

and xia is the world champion not lin at least for now:)

I've been wondering.... If Xia is so good like everyone says, how come he's not in any of the recent tournaments? ..... Or is he?

I've never seen any videos of him, all the videos I've seen are mostly lin dan and taufik:confused:..... Where's Xia? :o

[aiyuuw]

man, anyone who wrote this gotta give it a second thought.
aaah, i second that
'crowd-darling' and 'taufik hidayat' in same sentence to me is,,i dont know,,:D
(i mean, he fought with a spectator once right?)
and 'lethal weapon' could be right, but funny, sorry, no offence to the writer, at least he put some interesting words instead of writing a bland article, but many mistakes, like the location of sudirman cup final, current world champ (maybe he just assumes that lin dan is the world champ bcos he is the world no1)

[genjyo]

I've been wondering.... If Xia is so good like everyone says, how come he's not in any of the recent tournaments? ..... Or is he?

I've never seen any videos of him, all the videos I've seen are mostly lin dan and taufik:confused:..... Where's Xia? :o

i think you can download xia's video here
http://bbs.btchina.net:8080/showthread.php?s=&threadid=498614 (http://bbs.btchina.net:8080/showthread.php?s=&threadid=498614)

all england 2000
xia vs taufik

[kyiyu]

[QUOTE=Neosakai]I've been wondering.... If Xia is so good like everyone says, how come he's not in any of the recent tournaments? ..... Or is he?]

You had missed out his prime time. He was a rising star in late 90s, reached the peak at 2003 as world champion. He was All England Champ ( I think 2001? or 20002?)

Now he seems that passing his peak. He did participate in serveral Grand Prix Opens but could not make through even quarter fianl except in Thailand Open which was highest achement for him reaching quarter final for this year.

You could find serveral videos of him if you search in the titiles of around 1999-2003.

[kemana]

[QUOTE=kyiyuYou had missed out his prime time. He was a rising star in late 90s, reached the peak at 2003 as world champion. He was All England Champ ( I think 2001? or 20002?)
[/QUOTE]
i think he is ae champion of 2000

[tutu_h]

the writer misunderstood between World Champ and World No.1.

the same to me when i was a greenhorn.:D :D :D

[Rascak_23]

the writer misunderstood between World Champ and World No.1.

the same to me when i was a greenhorn.:D :D :D

whats green horn?

[Trance]

I've been wondering.... If Xia is so good like everyone says, how come he's not in any of the recent tournaments? ..... Or is he?

I've never seen any videos of him, all the videos I've seen are mostly lin dan and taufik:confused:..... Where's Xia? :o

Xia HAS been playing in recent tournaments. You can even check the IBF player profile of him to verify it. Last time I checked, (today), he did play at the Malaysia Open. Sadly, Xia has dropped significantly in rank. He's down to 22nd I believe. Even more sadly, he's only about 2k points above the Canadian Andrew Dabeka. Nothing against Dabeka, but it's disappointing when the former World Champ is only a little above a Canadian player :p

[unregistered]

What you mean don't see him in recent tournaments? Xia was playing in the aviva singapore open this year where he bowed out to teammate chen yu.




[QUOTE=Neosakai]I've been wondering.... If Xia is so good like everyone says, how come he's not in any of the recent tournaments? ..... Or is he?]

You had missed out his prime time. He was a rising star in late 90s, reached the peak at 2003 as world champion. He was All England Champ ( I think 2001? or 20002?)

Now he seems that passing his peak. He did participate in serveral Grand Prix Opens but could not make through even quarter fianl except in Thailand Open which was highest achement for him reaching quarter final for this year.

You could find serveral videos of him if you search in the titiles of around 1999-2003.

[kyiyu]

i think he is ae champion of 2000

Yes! He was AE2000 Champ. I quoted wrong year.

[cooler]

Xia HAS been playing in recent tournaments. You can even check the IBF player profile of him to verify it. Last time I checked, (today), he did play at the Malaysia Open. Sadly, Xia has dropped significantly in rank. He's down to 22nd I believe. Even more sadly, he's only about 2k points above the Canadian Andrew Dabeka. Nothing against Dabeka, but it's disappointing when the former World Champ is only a little above a Canadian player :p

i think the guy (xia) had left his heart at athen olympic when he wasn't pick to play for china. All the jia yao wont give him back the old flames to sustain his drive and determination to win. I'm sure the speed isnt the same too. Without mental drive and speed, his ranking go landslide no matter how much other skills he have.

[kyiyu]

Xia is off topic for this thread. Suggest to search in other thread which citing about him. Therefore we should not continue discussion about Xia here.




Yes! He was AE2000 Champ. I quoted wrong year.