Taufik Hidayat aims high in Axiata Cup and India Open – Badminton News
The badminton maestro of Indonesia, Taufik Hidayat is determined to utilise his experience and brilliance to prove his worth in the esteemed events of Axiata Cup and Yonex Sunrise India Open in April 2012.
Former World and Olympic Champion will lead the first string team Indonesia Garuda in Axiata Cup finals before gracing the India Open from April 24, 2012.
In Axiata Cup finals, the richest team event of badminton history, the Indonesian Garudas are up against the back up team Indonesia Rajawali which comprises talented but inexperienced shuttlers.
The six-time National Champion, Taufik Hidayat is confident that their experience will help them to ensure their supremacy in Axiata Cup.
He claimed, "We are older but we have the experience. Rajawali is a young team but we are going to win the Axiata Cup."
The first million-dollar team event, Axiata Cup is offering a whopping amount of $400,000 to the winner while the runners-up will go home with a lucrative amount of $200,000.
Indonesia Garuda comprises prime singles shuttlers like Taufik Hidayat, Simon Santoso and the duos Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano and reigning Olympic Champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan. They will be striving hard to pocket the biggest prize money in badminton
history.
A week later, the World Number 12 shuttler will be swinging his arms in New Delhi for India Open title and the badminton ace is in high spirits to register his mark in this event as well.
The 30-year-old Taufik thinks after a home event like Axiata Cup the pressure of playing away from home will switch on the best in him.
He said, "Pressure is what keeps me going. Pressure motivates me to be better. It's always been fun playing in India, the crowd always gives me a warm welcome. Yonex has made such a huge contribution to badminton in India."
However, he will have to surpass prime shuttlers of the world like World Number one Lee Chong Wei, Number four Peter Hoeg Gade and the World Number five Chen Jin.
It will be a huge task for Taufik as India Open is going to be the last tournament before closing of Olympic qualification period and every shuttler who has stakes in London Olympics will be looking to earn some valuable ranking points to elevate his status
in the rankings.
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