Olympic hero Hidayat ends career
Source: AFP |
June 14, 2013, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
INDONESIA'S former Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat bid an emotional farewell on Wednesday to a colorful career that made him one of badminton's biggest stars in front of a roaring home crowd.
With hundreds of fans cheering "Taufik can" and waving banners that read "Legend," the 31-year-old played his final professional match at the Indonesia Open, a tournament that he has won six times.
While the first-round match ended with his defeat to India's Sai Praneeth and an early exit from the tournament, Hidayat had not expected to go far against a tough field and still walked off the court a hero to his fans.
"What's really difficult is leaving badminton, a sport I have known for the past 25 years, 18 years as a professional player," an emotional Hidayat said.
"Henceforth, I will focus on my family," he said, with his young daughter sitting at his side.
With hundreds of fans cheering "Taufik can" and waving banners that read "Legend," the 31-year-old played his final professional match at the Indonesia Open, a tournament that he has won six times.
While the first-round match ended with his defeat to India's Sai Praneeth and an early exit from the tournament, Hidayat had not expected to go far against a tough field and still walked off the court a hero to his fans.
"What's really difficult is leaving badminton, a sport I have known for the past 25 years, 18 years as a professional player," an emotional Hidayat said.
"Henceforth, I will focus on my family," he said, with his young daughter sitting at his side.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
