Badminton: Misbun fears Taufik more than Lin Dan
By : K.M. Boopathy
NST Online
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Sport/20070730092810/Article/pppull_index_html
CHINA’S World No 1 Lin Dan may start as the early favourite to win the World Championships but national singles coach Misbun Sidek regards Indonesian Taufik Hidayat as the player who could deny Malaysia glory at Putra Stadium on Aug 3-9.
Taufik, the World No 10, has been playing down his chances recently and even said he might not play in the World Championships as his wife is due to give birth to their first child just a few days before the Championships start but Misbun remains convinced that the Olympic champion will be making a strong bid for a second world crown.
While Misbun is happy that his charge Lee Chong Wei, the World No 3, has hit form at the right time, the coach is cautious about Taufik, who can beat anyone if he puts his mind to it.
"As far as I am concerned, Taufik will be the most dangerous player in the World Championships and will a huge threat to every top shuttler in the tournament. Whether he is fit or not, he looks dead-set for this tournament," said Misbun.
"Due to his world ranking, Taufik will meet one of the top four seeds, which includes Chong Wei, in the quarter-finals and this will be a concern for title contenders.
"Having his first child will be extra motivation and all the more reason for him to win the world title as a present.
"Chong Wei is in good form. In fact he has exceeded my prediction by showing such rapid progress, but he needs to pace himself. It could be good if the draw puts Taufik and him in different halves."
A quick look at Taufik’s recent record will show that he has the tendency to under-perform, even throw away matches sometimes, in lead-up tournaments to a major event.
Taufik lost to Ng Wei of Hong Kong in the third round of the Malaysia Open in 2004 then went on to win the Athens Olympics gold medal a month later.
The Indonesian’s 15-5, 15-0 loss to eventual winner Chong Wei in the quarter-finals of the 2005 Malaysia Open turned out to be a false alarm as he went on to convincingly beat the Malaysian in the semi-finals en route to the World title in Anaheim several weeks later.
Taufik’s loss to unheralded Nguyen Thien Minh of Vietnam in the second round of the Philippines Open last week should be a warning to his rivals that he is pacing himself and taking him lightly in the World Championships will be foolhardy.
Chong Wei’s only consolation is that he had defeated Taufik in the semi-finals of the China Masters three weeks ago and this would have boosted the Malaysian’s confidence should they meet at any stage of the World Championships.
The other player who has been performing well and would have posed a threat is Boonsak Ponsana but the top shuttler from Thailand will not be around as he will be playing in the World University Games in Bangkok on Aug 8-18.
This means it will be a battle between Taufik and the rest but with the home ground advantage, Misbun hopes Chong Wei will prevail and pull off something spectacular.
By : K.M. Boopathy
NST Online
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Sport/20070730092810/Article/pppull_index_html
CHINA’S World No 1 Lin Dan may start as the early favourite to win the World Championships but national singles coach Misbun Sidek regards Indonesian Taufik Hidayat as the player who could deny Malaysia glory at Putra Stadium on Aug 3-9.
Taufik, the World No 10, has been playing down his chances recently and even said he might not play in the World Championships as his wife is due to give birth to their first child just a few days before the Championships start but Misbun remains convinced that the Olympic champion will be making a strong bid for a second world crown.
While Misbun is happy that his charge Lee Chong Wei, the World No 3, has hit form at the right time, the coach is cautious about Taufik, who can beat anyone if he puts his mind to it.
"As far as I am concerned, Taufik will be the most dangerous player in the World Championships and will a huge threat to every top shuttler in the tournament. Whether he is fit or not, he looks dead-set for this tournament," said Misbun.
"Due to his world ranking, Taufik will meet one of the top four seeds, which includes Chong Wei, in the quarter-finals and this will be a concern for title contenders.
"Having his first child will be extra motivation and all the more reason for him to win the world title as a present.
"Chong Wei is in good form. In fact he has exceeded my prediction by showing such rapid progress, but he needs to pace himself. It could be good if the draw puts Taufik and him in different halves."
A quick look at Taufik’s recent record will show that he has the tendency to under-perform, even throw away matches sometimes, in lead-up tournaments to a major event.
Taufik lost to Ng Wei of Hong Kong in the third round of the Malaysia Open in 2004 then went on to win the Athens Olympics gold medal a month later.
The Indonesian’s 15-5, 15-0 loss to eventual winner Chong Wei in the quarter-finals of the 2005 Malaysia Open turned out to be a false alarm as he went on to convincingly beat the Malaysian in the semi-finals en route to the World title in Anaheim several weeks later.
Taufik’s loss to unheralded Nguyen Thien Minh of Vietnam in the second round of the Philippines Open last week should be a warning to his rivals that he is pacing himself and taking him lightly in the World Championships will be foolhardy.
Chong Wei’s only consolation is that he had defeated Taufik in the semi-finals of the China Masters three weeks ago and this would have boosted the Malaysian’s confidence should they meet at any stage of the World Championships.
The other player who has been performing well and would have posed a threat is Boonsak Ponsana but the top shuttler from Thailand will not be around as he will be playing in the World University Games in Bangkok on Aug 8-18.
This means it will be a battle between Taufik and the rest but with the home ground advantage, Misbun hopes Chong Wei will prevail and pull off something spectacular.
U are so hard working 
...i also didn't realise until u mentioned about it
