So Taufik has reached yet another, SS final. However, it is well known that even though he is a former Olympic and World Champion, he has never actually won a SS event.
Taufik was the favourite to win last week, in Odense following the withdrawal of Peter Gade due to injury. In the final he came up against Jan Ø Jorgensen, Jan was clearly inspired by the home crowd and managed a narrow victory.
So what is his chance of clinching his first SS title this time out in Paris ?
Well, Taufik is up against the 8th seed, Joachim Persson. Joachim is a former world top 10 player, however in recent times, he has suffered a severe dip in form, and ranking. He has played some of the International series events this year, to get some of his confidence back, and at the same time, increase his ranking. Joachim's form can be really unpredictable, and he can sometimes let his nerves get the better of him, two examples of which, are the Japan Open SS 2008 SF, where he was up against Lee Chong Wei, the match only lasted 20 minutes, as Lee won 21-6 21-4. Another example is the All England SS 2009 QF where he lost to Lin Dan, in a match in which Joachim was completly outplayed. However this week, he seems a completly diffferent player, as he has beat Du Pengyu and Peter Gade. However will his nerves and the fact that he has played some very tough matches this week be all too much, and fall at the final hurdle.
For Taufik this is like a home tournament, the French fans love watching him play, and I am sure if you asked a French badminton fan, who they would like to win they would say Taufik. (unless there was a French player with a good chance of winning)
So can Taufik win his first SS title on "home soil" ? Or will Joachim spring a suprise ?
Please share your thoughts below
Taufik was the favourite to win last week, in Odense following the withdrawal of Peter Gade due to injury. In the final he came up against Jan Ø Jorgensen, Jan was clearly inspired by the home crowd and managed a narrow victory.
So what is his chance of clinching his first SS title this time out in Paris ?
Well, Taufik is up against the 8th seed, Joachim Persson. Joachim is a former world top 10 player, however in recent times, he has suffered a severe dip in form, and ranking. He has played some of the International series events this year, to get some of his confidence back, and at the same time, increase his ranking. Joachim's form can be really unpredictable, and he can sometimes let his nerves get the better of him, two examples of which, are the Japan Open SS 2008 SF, where he was up against Lee Chong Wei, the match only lasted 20 minutes, as Lee won 21-6 21-4. Another example is the All England SS 2009 QF where he lost to Lin Dan, in a match in which Joachim was completly outplayed. However this week, he seems a completly diffferent player, as he has beat Du Pengyu and Peter Gade. However will his nerves and the fact that he has played some very tough matches this week be all too much, and fall at the final hurdle.
For Taufik this is like a home tournament, the French fans love watching him play, and I am sure if you asked a French badminton fan, who they would like to win they would say Taufik. (unless there was a French player with a good chance of winning)
So can Taufik win his first SS title on "home soil" ? Or will Joachim spring a suprise ?
Please share your thoughts below

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