Liliyana Natsir and Tontowi Ahmad shift their focus to Olympic Games – Badminton news
Indonesia’s top seeds Liliyana Natsir and Tontowi Ahmad, who has won the India Open Super Series title for the second time in a row, shifted their focus towards Olympic Games 2012, which will kick off in the last week of July at London, England.
Liliyana and Tontowi, who are currently World Number 3 in Mixed Doubles world rankings, put up tremendous show at the last week’s India Open where they were defending champions.
The Indonesian couple did not let any opponent to beat them and eventually retained their top position in the India Open by winning the title for the second time.
The World Number Three couple also performed well in Birmingham in March when they nailed the Mixed Doubles title at the All England Open Premier Super Series.
Considering their impressive form at the moment, they are one of the favourites to win the Mixed Doubles gold medal at London Olympics.
In the final of India Open, Liliyana and Tontowi overwhelmed Thailand’s Saralee Thoungthongkam and Sudket Prapakamol with an entertaining difference of 21-16, 12-21, and 21-14.
After winning the title in India Open, Liliyana said that the couple was happy for retaining their title in the tournament.
However, she also admitted that they have to improve further if they want to win a medal in Olympics.
She said, “We’re glad that we could retain our title here in India. We’re satisfied with the way we’ve been playing recently, though we know there is still room for improvement if we want to win at the Olympics.”
While talking about her Olympic target, Liliyana said that she has an unfinished job so far as she want to win the gold at Olympics and she is optimistic for completing her legacy this time.
She said, “Personally, I have an unfinished business in the Olympics. “I hope that I can pull it off this time, so Tontowi and I will achieve our Olympic dream.”
The recent victory at the India Open has made Liliyana and Tontowi elated and they are confident to continue their current form in the upcoming tournaments and also want to maintain it in the Olympic Games to win glory for Indonesia.
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