HE is known as the 'bad boy' of badminton. World No 7 Taufik Hidayat's on and off the court spats are as famous as his list of achievements.
HE is known as the 'bad boy' of badminton. World No 7 Taufik Hidayat's on and off the court spats are as famous as his list of achievements.
In 2001, he attacked a spectator during the Indonesian National Championship. Two years later, he was back in the news for being involved in a parking brawl in Jakarta. It was not clear whether he started it or the mob of 20 began fighting around him.
However, the former World champion and 2004 Athens Olympics gold medallist has no regrets about any of his past actions.
"Many of these controversies were created by the media. Sometimes a small issue was blown out of proportion.
I don't regret about anything that I have done in the past," Taufik told MiD DAY on the sidelines of the
inauguration of the CCI's state-of-the-art badminton courts and opening of the Yonex Proshop at the club.
When asked about the infamous match against World No 1 Chinese Lin Dan in 2006 where Hidayat walked off because of a line dispute after just five recorded points, the Indonesian said, "It wasn't a fair match. A wrong call can happen once or twice but not every time. There was no point playing it further."
Taufik, however, does not feel controversies have affected his performance. "It has nothing to do with it. I have just won a Grand Prix title (Indian Open in Hyderabad on Sunday)," he signed off.
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