I can see that there will be some players coming up to replace Taufik. Besides Sony, there is Tommy Sugiarto also.
Tommy Sugiarto? He has to train very much harder! Right now, he is not of championship material IMHO.
I personally think that Sony deserves to be WC runner-up. He was impressive and even the likes of LCW, PG and CY did not frighten him. Yes, many have forgotten that he was the last Olympic Games bronze medallist.
Sony deserved a rubber-game against LD. He gave too much respect to LD in the first game and was unable to match LD's speed, even though LD is known to be a slow starter. He could not find his rhythm yet and was often caught too slow on the return. It was a complete mis-match in the first game and it was sad that Sony, with his wealth of experience, should give so much away.
In the second, Sony at last found his pace to match LD's. But he tried a few times to test LD with high clears to his forehand to LD's delight. LD managed to smash down the line quite effectively and won precious points. In this respect, Sony was too 'stupid' (pardon the word) to continue with this tactic and beguiling himself that LD couldn't repeat his smashes at ease.
It became too late for Sony to change his tactics although he was asserting himself on LD who must have felt a refreshed Sony at the helm making LD work very hard for his points. Even when Sony was leading at 19 points, he could not take advantage to force game point and convert to prolong the match with a rubber.
Sony wasted his chances. A rubber game would have heighten the already electrifying atmosphere in the second game and created a difference in a Finals day that saw no 3-game thrillers. What a shame!
