SS FINALS 2010 Day 2 – Injuries strike in threes

The final entries in the men’s singles final four were decided rather unexpectedly at the Victor BWF 2010 Super Series Finals, as Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, after staying close to Chen Long for a game and a half, was forced to withdraw.

By Don Hearn, Badzine Correspondent live in Taipei.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

“I have actually had this problem for a long time,” the Indonesian explained.  “It is a fracture in my left toe and it was diagnosed just after the Asian Games.  At first it just felt like fatigue but then it started hurting more and I went to have it x-rayed.

“Of course, it’s tough to have to withdraw like this.  It’s the finals so I have been waiting for one year to be here, after playing the whole year in the Super Series.  As for playing in the Malaysia and Korea Open Super Series, I will see.  I’m still in the draws for those events, of course, but I’ll let it go until the last minute and see how my condition is.”

Taufik joins compatriot Hendra Setiawan and Denmark’s Thomas Laybourn in succumbing to injury and forfeiting a chance at the big payoff at the US$500,000 event.  The injuries come at a most inopportune time for the five professionals (including the two partners) as another US$1.6 million are up for grabs later this month in the Malaysia Open Super Series and the Korea Open Premier Super Series events.

Taufik’s withdrawal means that Chen Long and Boonsak Ponsana will both advance from Group B.  Like Lee Chong Wei and Peter Gade in Group A, the two qualifiers will be playing tomorrow to decide first and second place in the group.