Hidayat wins gold in badminton

KORAT, Thailand: Olympic badminton champion Taufik Hidayat won gold at the SEA Games here yesterday, helping  Indonesia secure a clean sweep of all seven medals in the  competition. Hidayat beat Singapore’s Lee Yen Hui Kendrick 21-15, 21-9 after  quickly taking control.
He raced into an 8-2 lead, testing his  opponent with deep shots and deft play at the net and he sealed the  first game with an overhead smash.
The second game followed a similar pattern, with the Indonesian  superstar rarely looking troubled.
“I’m happy because I won the gold medal for Indonesia and I’m happy with my performance,” he said.
Hidayat was at the centre of controversy on Wednesday when an  umpire ordered him from the side of the court to the stands after he accused officials of trying to aid a Thai player.
The Games have  been overshadowed by claims of unfair judging by Thai officials.
In the women’s singles final, Indonesia’s Maria Kristin Yulianti  beat compatriot Adriyanti Firdasari 21-16, 21-15.
Indonesia’s Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan won the men’s doubles final, beating Singapore’s Hendra Wijaya and Hendri  Kurniawan Saputra 21-17, 21-12.
In the women’s doubles final, Indonesian pair Natsir Liliyana and Vita Marissa beat Jo Novita and Greysia Polii, also from  Indonesia, 21-15, 21-14.
In the mixed doubles final, Indonesia’s Flandy Limpele and Vita  Marissa beat Thailand’s Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam  21-14, 21-15.
Indonesia also took the men’s and women’s team golds earlier in  the week. (AFP)