OLYMPICS DAY 3 - Taufik:"It's Choong Hann's turn to win."

What goes around comes around -- that was the attitude adopted by the Olympic defending champion Taufik Hidayat as he was handed a 21-19, 21-16 defeat by Malaysia's Wong Choong Hann in the men's singles round of 32 at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Jan Lin, reporting live from Beijing (BIMC). Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

There was a tinge of sadness for his quick exit at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia managed to pull off a light-hearted post-match interview. "I defeated Choong Hann in Athens four years ago," he said unassumingly. "It is his turn to win this time".

Seeded 7th at his third Olympic outing, the Indonesian wonderboy registered his worst Olympic defeat in Beijing. The 2004 champion had lost to the eventual champion Ji Xinpeng of China in the quarter-finals of the 2000 Sydney Games.

"I think I've lost the 'feel' I used to have. I was also hospitalised before coming to Beijing and I wasn't feeling at my best playing in this match," said the 27-year-old Indonesian, who was hit by dengue fever less than a month before the Games.

The 31-year-old Wong Choong Hann, who will be expecting the arrival of his second daughter next month, was a very happy man.

"I've not played against Taufik since Athens!" he said, "but prior to Athens, we'd played each other many times throughout the years and we have an understanding of each other and before this match, I tried to recall those matches we played against each other.

"The Olympic Games is full of surprises. I've not won anything in my last two outings as I've always had very high expectations for myself. I thought I should adopt a different perspective this time - a more relaxed attitude and to see this as a chance to gather and meet with my long-time friends."

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