No pics post Olympic champ Hidayat advances to world badminton final 10 minutes ago ANAHEIM, United States (AFP) - Taufik Hidayat, seeking to become the first man in history to hold the Olympic and World titles at the same time, advanced to the final of the world badminton championships. The 24-year-old Indonesian sixth seed rolled over Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei 15-3, 15-12 in a singles semi-final in front of 3,000 at the Arrowhead Pond. Lee staged a late charge in the second game but Hidayat was able to hold him off and clinch the victory with a high backhand that sailed over Lee's head. Lee misjudged the shot, which landed just inside the line, sending Hidayat through to his first World Championship final. "If I win tomorrow it will complete my goal of winning all the major championships," said Hidayat, whose best previous finish at a worlds was a semi-final berth in 2001. Hidayat booked a spot in Sunday's final against the winner of a later match between world number one Lin Dan of China and Danish third seed Peter Gade. Hidayat defeated South Korea's Shon Seung-Mo 15-8, 15-7 to win the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He is also the reigning Asian Games champ after defeating compatriot Sony Dwl Kuncoro 15-12, 7-15, 15-6 in the final. In the last worlds, held in 2003, Hidayat was eliminated by China's Bao Chunlai in the third round. Hidayat is considered the bad boy of men's badminton and has been compared to tennis great John McEnroe because of his outbursts on the court. He has already received one yellow card in Anaheim for throwing his racket. But there was no hint of anger on Saturday, only joy, as Hidayat talked about reaching his career goals. "Winning the Olympic gold was a great achievement but it was more a prestige event," Hidayat said. "This world championship is more personal to me. If I win tomorrow I will complete my dream." Hidayat attended a post-match news conference sporting a red tsunami relief bracelet on his right wrist. There was also a sparkling diamond ring on the same hand and three shiny necklaces. He had so much "bling bling" on that he looked more like a rap star than Indonesia's national hero. Hidayat said the bracelet was a gift from his girlfriend. He was competing at the Copenhagen Masters tournament when the tsunami struck his home country. When he returned to Indonesia he said he devoted some time to helping the victims, but wishes he could have done more. "I helped out as much as I could but not directly. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go to the site," Hidayat said. Saturday's victory was especially sweet for Hidayat because he was able to avenge a 15-5, 15-0 loss to Lee just last month in the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Open. "I believe in myself and my ability to get the win," Hidayat said. "In the Malaysian Open I was a bit injured but I don't want to use that as an excuse. "I heard the Malaysian newspapers were saying the Malaysian people wanted Lee to win so that really motivated me." Hidayat stumbled in the second game, allowing Lee to briefly take the lead. Hidayat said the breeze from the air conditioning in the arena threw him off his game plan. "It (breeze) was really bothering me," he said. "I had to play with more caution and that was how he was able to catch up. But I was able to regroup and get the win." World number one Zhang Ning of China beat sixth seed Xu Huaiwen 11-7, 11-9 as the veterans met for the first time in women's singles. Top seed Zhang, 30, covered the court efficiently in beating her former Chinese teammate 11-7, 11-9 in a semi-final match. Both Zhang and Xu, who now competes for Germany, have been around badminton for longer than most, but this is the first time in their 13-year careers they faced each other in a competitive match. "This was the best game of the tournament so far for me," Zhang said. Zhang booked a place in Sunday's women's singles final where she will face the winner of a later match between Taiwan's Cheng Shao-Chieh and Xie Xingfang of China. Xu, 30, played her first major final in 1994, but she is considered a late bloomer and has only started to receive high seedings in the past two years. "I respect her a lot," Xu said of Zhang. Zhang and Xu are good friends and have kept in touch since Xu left China for Germany. "We keep in contact through the internet," Xu said. "She (Zhang) always buys me stuff in China and ships it to me when I need it." In mixed doubles on Saturday, China's Xie Zhongbo and Zhang Yawen defeated Daniel Shirley and Sara Runesten-Petersen of New Zealand 15-8, 15-8 in a semi-final. Because there is no match for third and fourth place, Shirley and Runesten-Petersen are awarded bronzes, which mark the first-ever world championship medals for New Zealand.
more ld and pg pics must be a close match, LYB had to talk to offfical peter is checking out the overhead camera
comment on the 3rd last pic of Peter Gade on Ant's last post.... Why does Gade always smile when he's in that position? He seems like a model...Though it is funny..!! I never thought I'd live to see the day LinDan wears a balck uniform..lol The article has a mistake, LCW and Taufik met in the semifinals in proton, not the quaters...
maby it has to do with the picture above them the one of Lin Dan bending over haha, na dont knwo its probally from a point in the game. couldnt really see the coaches to much in the webcast i was watching.
