Liliyana Natsir has a date with destiny at the World Badminton Championships. With a new partner in Tontowi Ahmad, the mixed doubles specialist will face her biggest test yet as she attempts to end the country’s World Champion title drought in London this week.
Playing at Wembley Arena, which is also the venue for next year’s Olympics, the hopes of the nation will be on their shoulders as they attempt to bring Indonesia its first world title since 2007.
“I feel like it is my responsibility to end the suffering,” Liliyana said before leaving for London. “Our intensive preparation will help us face the test. I hope we can make it through and come home with victory.”
Liliyana and former partner Nova Widianto claimed the mixed doubles title at the 2007 Worlds, their last big success since pairing up in 2004.
They failed to repeat that success in 2009 after losing to Denmark’s Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl in the final, with Nova’s age blamed for the loss. The 33-year-old parted ways with Liliyana last year, ending a partnership that had produced 15 major championships.
Parting with Nova was difficult, but Liliyana’s next partnership turned out to be a fruitful one. Of the 11 tournaments she has entered with Tontowi, they have walked away with titles in four, including a hat-trick of victories at the India Open Super Series, Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold and Singapore Open Super Series.
They endured a rare bump in the road at home, though, losing to world No. 1 duo Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei of China in the Indonesia Open Super Series final.
With a month of intensive preparation under their belts, the national team believes Tontowi and Liliyana can peak at Worlds.
“If they can play as well as in Singapore, I’m sure they can overcome every possible pressure that comes up during the matches in London,” Indonesia mixed doubles coach Richard Mainaky said.
Tontowi and Liliyana’s rise through the world rankings has not been a stroll. During their run to victory in Singapore, they saw off pairs from South Korea, Taiwan and China, including Zhang and Zhao in the semifinals.
Having received a first-round bye in London, the No. 2 seeds will open against Baptiste Careme and Laura Choinet of France or Ireland’s Sam and Chloe Magee in the second round. A potentially tricky match against 11th-seeded Lee Sheng Mu and Chien Yu Chin of Taiwan lurks in the third round.
Sudirman Cup stars Fran Kurniawan Teng and Pia Zebadiah Bernadet will take on Stilian Makarski and Diana Dimova of Bulgaria or Taiwan’s Fang Chieh Min and Wang Pei Rong after sitting out the first round.
Muhammad Rijal and Debby Susanto will open against Denmark’s Mads Pieler Kolding and Julie Houmann.
source : Jakarta Globe
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