Titleholder Hidayat fails to solve Chinese puzzle

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2006

MADRID (AFP) — Defending champion Taufik Hidayat crashed out of the world badminton championships after an extraordinary defeat to Chen Hong, the sixth seed from China. The unseeded champion from Indonesia led 5-3 in the second game and 17-16 and 18-17 in the third but may have paid the price for lack of match practice in a 14-21, 21-18, 21-19 loss to Chen.

Hidayat, who has spent much of the year on the sidelines, nevertheless looked to be playing well enough to win the match in the first game, in which he took a long early lead and often tied the rallies up cleverly at the net. This was both a way of avoiding problems with the wind drift and nullified Chen's dangerous jump smash, but Hidayat's concentration appeared to wander in the second game. This proved a crucial lapse,...