BEIJING, Sept. 20 — Hidayat Taufik apologised for the first time for his walk-out in the Hong Kong Open after winning his first-round tie in the World Chamgpionships. The reigning champion beat Wang NG from Chinese Hong Kong 21-17, 21-17 to begin his defence campaign. This was the first match he played since Hong Kong Open where he walked out of a semifinal game against Chinese Lin Dan on September 1 after having failed to persuade the umpire to change a controversial decision by a lines-woman. "I apologise for what I did in Hong Kong, but she was wrong, everybody could see that," the 25-year-old Indonesian said in a defiant mood. "It should have been a 'out' call, the TV showed that very clearly," he said. Taufik said he would strongly advise the international badminton governing body IBF to introduce cameras to help umpires and linesmen.
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| Badminton player Hidayat Taufik of Indonesia apologised for the first time for his walk-out in the Hong Kong Open after winning his first-round tie in the World Chamgpionships Sept. 19, 2006.(Xinhua Photo) |
