Hidayat grabs lucky win at badminton worlds
0 
The fifth seed Taufik Hidayat from Indonesia avoided second-round exit at the Badminton World Championships after beating Chinese Taipei's Hsieh Yu-hsing in three sets.
Hidayat, 29, met strong challenges from the Beijing Olympic Games quarterfinalist Hsieh, losing the first set in 21-19. He managed to led the following set in 19-15, but was caught up to a tie of 19-19. When the former Olympic and world champion grabbed two match points in 20-19, He earned the key point with a seemingly outside ball.
Hsieh protested to the umpire in vain then lost the deciding game quickly in 21-9.
"It's outside. If I could draw in 20-20, maybe the result would be different," said Hsieh who also dragged Hidayat into a deciding game victory at the All England Championships last year. "I rested for almost six months this year due to a left-knee injury, so I felt lack of strength in the final game."
Hidayat admitted that he was fortunate to win the match.
"I'm lucky. I think it's outside, but we have the umpire, so I can't do anything," said Hidayat.
Hidayat believed the top four seeds in the men's singles were all favorites to win the title rather himself. The defending Asian champion is looking forward to his fourth Asian Games appearance three months later and refused to make retirement plan at the moment.
"I can play and I'm still the number one in Indonesia," said Hidayat.
After quitting the national team of Indonesia last year, Hidayat made a deal with their national badminton association. "if I'm the No. 1 or No. 2, I could play (at the Asian Games). If I'm No. 3, I just play for team event," revealed Hidayat.
However, Hidayat hasn't confirmed his participation at the Guangzhou Asian Games. He said if his conditions were not good, he might give the chance to compatriot Simon Santoso.
"Simon has never played in the individual event at the Asian Games," said Hidayat.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments