Some pictures for fans of TH and SS during the recent Malaysia Open. TH beat SS 21-15, 21-19 in 49 min. It was by no means an easy win for TH. Despite a minor injury to one of his racket holding fingers, I think, SS put up a good fight. Some notable names that SS scalped before meeting TH in the SF included: 1. Du Pengyu (R1) 19-21, 21-6, 21-5 (51 min) 2. Chen Jin #4 (R2) 21-12, 18-21, 21-10 (1 hr 13 min) (Poor CJ #5 also surrendered his match to younger compatriot Wang Zhengming 21-11, 21-14 (24 min) during the Korea Open, which followed the next week.) SS was in great form during the most recent Korea Open when he beat: 1. Boonsak Ponsana #7 (R1) 21-16, 21-14 (44 min) 2. Rajiv Ouseph (R2) 21-19, 21-15 (40 min) 3. Peter Gade #3 (QF) 21-17, 21-16 (45 min) SS lost to LD #6 in SF 23-21, 20-22, 21-15 (1 hr 16 min) (Therefore he came close to beating LD had he won his second game.) TH #2, on the other hand, lost to LD in QF 21-13, 8-21, 21-15 (49 min) It would seem Simon Santoso would be a better bet for INA to challenge other aspirants for the London Olympics 2012 badminton crown than TH, especially if Li Mao is engaged to concentrate on coaching him.
Correct me if I am wrong, but Simon Santoso appears to have lost some of the bulk he had a year or two ago?
Ya, now that you mentioned it, he appears to have lost some fat. Which might have helped him move about faster and quicker on the kill! But compared to the first time he played many years ago at the S'pore Badminton Hall as junior, he is now much stronger. Even then he was very good and I think he won the title.
Yeah but i read somewhere,TH say probably he will still playing in OG 2012. Im very confuse with TH, everytime he lost,his excuse is he already old la,play badminton for fun and make the fans excited only la, so he want to play in OG for what? For fun and make the fans excited only? LOL.
i don't see nothing wrong with that, since entertaining the fans means he should be in the playing court not on the sideline which makes him wanting to win. and i would rather see him play other than the rest of the Indonesian players. fair point is SS playing as well to LD made him a nice bet too, but SDK, from injury and without competitive playing for a long time would mean his rusty.
Yes,entertaining his fans but not most of INA fans see,when he lost,he always say that he already old. So, what motivated him to play in OG? for SDK,still 1 year to go,i believe he will back.
PBSI the one decided who will go to London(if there is more than 2 players in top 8), i believe Simon and SDK can go back to top10 if they not get anymore injury
Its simply a question of form and consistency. If SDK or Hayom or SS are good enough at the time of selection, they get in, and TH gets rested. But if they ae simply not good enough, it still does not make sense to send them, just because they may be 1 or 2 or 3 years younger. TH has been more consistent with his attendance at tournaments than SDK or SS, despite his own physical problems. For SDK and SS, it's just been bad luck that they came down with injuries etc recently (more other personal issues with SDK as well ) but I woldn't be fooled by Taufik's talk about just enjoying the game. He is still a fierce competitor. He has been around long enough that he knows his own body and capacity, and when he knows that the outcome is a loss, he does not push himself unnecessarily. He "lives to fight another day." And yet, he will seize every opportunity he gets. Remember his match against LCW at the WC2010? The ball is in the other court. The other guys need to prove that they are worthy of removing Taufik from the list of probables for OG2012. Regardless of statement of "fun," "excitement" etc, every country must send its best representative. And Taufik is still the best that Indonesia have, today. My 2c...
Yeah i totally agree with cobalt there, just look at ae2010 vs petergade, he was definitely playing to seize the win, not entertainthe crowd and his wc2010 too. Although ss is improving, it seems like th is also making a comeback
Japan SS 2010 R1 : Sasaki def TH 18-21 23-21 21-19. Denmark SS 2010 R1 : TH def Emil R2 : TH def J.Persson QF : TH def K.Tago SF : TH def DPY F : JOJ def TH 21-19 21-19. France SS 2010 R1 : TH def WZM R2 : TH def Marcel Qf : TH def Rajiv SF : TH def BP F : TH def J.Persson HKG SS 2010 R1 : TH def DPY R2 : TH def Tanongsak Qf : TH def PSH Sf : TH def CL F : LCW def TH 21-19 21-9 SSMF 2010 Group stage : BP beat TH, CL beat TH. MAS SS 2011. R1 : TH def PSH R2 : TH def WHS QF : TH def KT SF : TH def SS F : []LCW[/B] def TH 21-8 21-17. KOR SS 2011. R1 : TH def Sasaki R2 : TH def WWK QF: LD def TH How many top players has TH beat?I would rate LD,LCW and CJ as the best contender for winning the OG 2012.Yes he beat LCW in WC 2010, but in next encounter,LCW beat TH in 2 sets only. Frankly,this few months TH overshadowed SS and SDK because SS and SDK are injure and skip so many SS tourney.
it will be an interesting year this year with a resurgent simon .. a hungry chong wei and the cunning lin dan. nationalistic sentimentalism aside..i hope there will be more badminton like what we see in kuala lumpur and korea (lindan vs chongwei, lindan vs ss taufik vs ss...etc etc)
The point here is TH never win AE then he fight with all his best I doubt he will do the same for olympic,thats why i prefer simon and sony go to london For skill and popularity wise TH win but for the willing to win attitude others iNA MS are better
One word.... Taufik hidayat is the most gifted player the world has produced during his prime. Lin dan is simply no match for taufik on a good day.
