2012: An outstanding season for Tontowi Ahmad, Liliyana Natsir – Badminton Feature
Indonesia’s prime Mixed Doubles team Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir has been representing the country since 2010 and during this short period of time both shuttlers have brought several international titles back home.
However, 2012 has been the most productive season for them as they have bagged four international titles so far and the nation is hoping them to end this season by clinching couple of more trophies.
The list of honour includes prestigious titles like All England Open, Swiss Open, India Open and the Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold. Though, they could not find any reason to celebrate initially but the third month of this season saw them at top of their
game as they claimed the crown in the World’s oldest badminton event.
In 2012 All England Open, World Number four pair played with great precision and stole the limelight despite of the presence of prime Mixed Doubles team like Xu Chen-Ma Jin, Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei, Chris Adcock-Imogen Bankier and Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna
Pedersen.
The twosome of Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir kick-started their campaign by overpowering lower ranked teams and then registered their presence by casting out Nathan Robertson-Jenny Wallwork of England.
They remained invincible in the semi-final round and rose to prominence by thrashing the Danish pair Thomas Laybourn-Kamilla Rytter Juhl in the grand finale.
This remarkable win boosted their confidence and they stretched their successful run in 2012 Swiss Open. This time Tontowi-Liliyana duo was placed at top of the tournament rankings and they proved themselves true champs with an unbeatable run.
They did not find any trouble in preliminary stages but the quarter-final round subjected them to a tough trial. They had to sweat hard as the Malaysian couple Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying showed great fighting spirit.
However, the prime Indonesian campaigners displayed superior finishing skills and qualified for the semi-finals where top British duo Imogen Bankier-Chris Adcock was waiting for them. This crucial battle proved survival of the fittest war and both teams
challenged each other in all areas of the game.
Tontowi and Liliyana passed this tough test with distinction and then overpowered Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam in the finals to clutch their second international title of the season.
Both Mixed Doubles partners did not stop here as they continued with their top form in India Open. This badminton event saw almost every top team displaying their craft as it was one of the last tournaments before the London Olympics.
The Indonesian pair did not get confused and managed to stand out by snatching the honour from hot favourite Chinese and Korean contenders.
Though, Tontowi-Liliyana failed to escort the country to glory in 2012 edition of the Olympics but they got back on right track by winning Indonesia Open GP Gold. They successfully lifted the burden of nation’s expectations and stole the limelight with a
lustrous performance.
They hardly found any trouble in the preliminary stages and real challenge came in shape of Markis Kido-Pia Zebadiah in the semi-final round. They switched on the best and setup a title match with compatriot shuttlers Muhammad Rijal-Debby Susanto.
Tontowi and Liliyana served notice of their supremacy and sealed a straight-set victory. This timely success has provided them the right momentum and the Indonesian badminton lovers are expecting them to end this season with favourable results in coming
tournaments like China Open and Hong Kong Open.
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