Jakarta: Susi Susanti, Indonesia’s badminton legend and the country’s first Olympic gold medalist in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, ignited the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the 18th Asian Games last Saturday before triggering a spectacular eruption and lava flow. However, badminton fans were wondering where’s another Indonesian badminton legend, the 2004 Olympic champion and two-time Asian Games men’s singles champion, Taufik Hidayat?
Hidayat was nowhere to be seen at the Asian Games Opening Ceremony, but, no worries, the mystery has finally been solved. He was contacted by reporter and here’s the brief conversation between Taufik Hidayat and the reporter.
Reporter: “Last night, the Asian Games opening ceremony was held in your home country, but you were not there to witness the event, where were you?”
Taufik Hidayat: “I was there, I mean I was in Jakarta (laughs). I was not at the opening ceremony, but I was watching the opening ceremony in front of TV. My wife was not here, I had to stay home with my daughter and son at home. Haha, this is my current job. I have a lot of friends who went to the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was truly spectacular. I was very excited when I saw it. Everyone looked very excited. It was a magnificent Asian Games opening ceremony.”
Reporter: “As the winner of the badminton men’s singles title in the 2002 and 2006 Asian Games, how do you view the current status of Indonesian badminton?”
Taufik Hidayat: “As you can see, the Indonesian men’s singles are not very strong right now, but we are still very strong in men’s and mixed doubles.”
Reporter: “This time, your former opponent and good friend, Malaysian star Lee Chong Wei, one of the ‘Four Heavenly Kings’ in badminton, has pulled out from the Asian Games due to illness. Have you contacted him?”
Taufik Hidayat: “Not yet. However, I heard that he is currently undergoing treatment in Taiwan. I will go to Taiwan next month to attend a badminton event, so I will find an opportunity to visit him when I am there.”
Reporter: “What’s your opinion about another ‘Four Heavenly Kings’ in badminton, Lin Dan, who is still actively playing in highly competitive badminton?”
Taufik Hidayat: “Lin Dan is really amazing! He is really the one and only of the world. He has already won gold medals in Asian Games and the Olympic Games, but still continue playing. It’s incredible!”
