One of the team officials confirmed on the tournament's official website that Taufik had withdrawn "because he was not physically prepared".

The Indonesian had been drawn to face 2003 All England champion Muhammad Hafiz Hashim of Malaysia in Wednesday's first round with the prospect of meeting world and All England champion Lin Dan of China in the quarter-finals.

Taufik, Olympic, Asian Games and former world champion who came out the runner-up at the 1999 and 2000 tournament, had insisted that the All England was his target this year but he had not played in Birmingham since reaching the 2004 semifinals.

He was injured and skipped the 2005 edition and was again absent from the 2006 tournament because of his wedding.

(source: xinhua)