Hidayat reigns supreme

Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat won the Asian Games men’s badminton gold even as more player protests scarred the concluding day of the tournament here today.

No medals yet for five teams With seven events left on the final day of the Asian Games, five of the 44 competing nations and regions had no medals — the Maldives, Oman, Cambodia and Bhutan and East Timor. Newly independent East Timor still had a chance to come off the list with Xavier do Rego competing in the men’s marathon today. But the other countries have completed their events. War-ravaged Afghanistan and Laos came off the list over the weekend. Female competitor Roia Zamani erased Afghanistan from the list by winning a bronze in taekwondo, a Korean martial art. Laos did twice better as Phonk Khamsounthone and Vanhxay Oudomphonh each won a bronze in wushu, a traditional Chinese martial art. Successful Games Busan Asian Games organisers have praised themselves for staging a “most successful event.” “The Games have had their shortcomings, but not to a damaging extent,” said Chung Soon-Taek, the President of the Games’ organising committee. “The Busan Asian Games are the biggest in history, being judged as one of the most exemplary games and one of the most successful events.” The largest games in the event’s 52-year history brought together all 43 members of the Olympic Council of Asia for the first time. Amid growing reconciliation between the divided Koreas, the North joined an international event held in the South for the first time. Story continues below this ad China’s weakest links Looking for a way to beat China at the Asian Games? Try boxing, equestrian competition, taekwondo, bowling, rugby, tennis, squash, baseball and the regional sports of kabaddi and sepak takraw. The Chinese didn’t win any medals in these disciplines, and a few others. They did not enter kabaddi competition, and boxing is new for them. For many years, they sent no boxers to the Games. Nevertheless, China was a runaway winner again, with 149 of the 420 gold medals decided by the end of yesterday’s events. They also were likely winners in men’s and women’s basketball today. Its biggest haul, 27 golds, came in shooting. Chinese also won 20 in swimming, 15 in gymnastics, 14 in track and field and 12 in rowing. They swept all eight golds in diving.

Hidayat gave another glimpse of his temperamental nature in the final against South Korean Lee Hyun Il, which he won 15-7, 15-9 but only after disputing a line call that held up play for five minutes.

Earlier on Sunday, Hidayat avenged his team event defeat by Shon Seung-Mo of South Korea to enter the men’s singles final.

Later in the women’s doubles final, the Chinese pair of Gao Ling and Huang Sui too protested and their match against South Koreans Ra Kyung-Min and Lee Kyung-Won was stopped for 10 minutes in the second game.

Hidayat had staged a two-hour walk-out during the team championship final against South Korea citing biased calls by South Korean linesmen.

The 22-year-old Indonesian had lost his match of that tie to Shon Seuong-Mo but extracted revenge in the men’s semi-finals.

That match went off smoothly but Hidayat held up the final when he was 9-8 up in the second game.

Chief referee Boon kong Ee of Singapore intervened to control the situation and said the call was good. Hidayat though insisted it was a bad one.

“You feel bad when you get such decisions but I’m getting used to it,” said Hidayat. “There was great pressure on me but I guess so was it on Lee.

“I thought he didn’t play a good game today,” he said about left-handed Lee, who is currently ranked 13th in the world, one place above Hidayat.

Hidayat attacked from early on to wrest the initiative in the first game, going from 3-5 down to 14-5 up before wrapping it up. In the second, the scores went neck-and-neck till 9-9 after which Hidayat pulled away.

“It’s wonderful winning the gold but it would have been better had we won the team gold too,” said Hidayat.

“I was aiming for two gold medals. It feels bad to be a member of one of two teams that have lost to South Korea in an Asian Games final.”

Hidayat could not hide his jubilation at sealing victory over Lee with a delightful flick that caught his opponent out of position.

There were similar scenes of joy later in the day as the third-seeded Korean pair of Ra Kyung-Min and Lee Kyung-Won prevailed over second seeds Gao Ling and Huang Sui 11-8, 11-7 in a tense match.

The Chinese pair refused to carry on when the score was 3-3 in the second game after they had lost the first.

They insisted the umpire have a look at a replay on the big television screen before awarding the Koreans their fourth point of the game.

Once again, officials of the Asian Badminton Confederation had to come in to ensure resumption of the match.