体育英语|Taufik too strong for injured Chen

Reigning^{1 Olympic and Asian Games champion Taufik Hidayat walked away with the Asian Badminton Championships title for the third time with an easy 21-18, 21-19 win over an injured Chen Hong of China in the mens singles final yesterday.}

Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat shakes hands with China's Chen Hong on the podium during a medal presentation ceremony at the Asian Badminton Championship in Malaysia's southern state of Johor April 15, 2007. Taufik beat Chen Hong to take the men's singles title. [Reuters]

Richer by US$10,000 from the victory, the Indonesian ace^{2 has set his sights on the Singapore Open and his home tournament .}

He had skipped the All-England and the Swiss Open last month after a dispute with the All-Indonesian Badminton Federation^{3 .}

I am very happy to win the title again. It is good to win it three times. The ABC title is just the right tonic^{4 for me to gear up for the next two tournaments, said Taufik.}

I don't think Chen Hong was at his best. He told me he injured his leg and this affected^{5 his play. But still, a win is a win. Things are shaping up nicely for me.}

I have two weeks to prepare for the Singapore Open. I am somewhat short on my fitness and I have to work on improving it because the next two tournaments will be much, much tougher than the ABC.

For Chen Hong, who is making a return to competition after announcing his retirement^{6 from the game recently, his efforts yesterday were worth US$4,000.}