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span class="inline inline-left">High hopes: Indonesian mixed pair shuttlers Tontowi Ahmad (left) and Liliyana Natsir grin after receiving bonuses from PB Djarum and PB Tangkas Alfamart at Hotel Kempinski in Jakarta on Wednesday. JP/Wendra AjistyatamaAlthough many expect the current All England Open mixed double champions Liliyana Natsir and Tontowi Ahmad to shine at the London Olympics in July–August, Liliyana Natsir has warned that being overly optimistic would be a burden for the pair in the quadrennial event.

Liliyana is sure that her opponents, especially the Chinese shuttlers, will identify the Indonesian pair as their main target.

“They will definitely study our playing pattern and flaws. Therefore, the main thing we can do with coaches and officials [at the Indonesian Badminton Association] is to learn more playing patterns and techniques,” Liliyana said on the sidelines of a ceremony following her double victory at the All England and Swiss opens in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Liliyana and Tontowi received Rp 200 million (US$21,792) each in cash bonuses from their respective clubs, PB Tangkas Alfamart and PB Djarum, for their historic victories in the current All England Open and Swiss Open badminton tournaments.

Despite her realistic view Liliyana, who with her partner Tontowi regained for Indonesia an All England victory in mixed doubles after 33 years, said the pair had a great opportunity to nail the gold medal.

“We have to study the performances of players with higher rankings. But among the top-eight players, I think their strengths are equal,” she said as quoted by kompas.com.

Liliyana, who was a silver medalist in the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Nova Widianto, said that she also expected the government to pay similar attention to successful athletes in other sports. “Hopefully, the government will make a special gesture afterwards.”

Former All England champions Liem Swie King, Christian Hadinata, Kartono, Heryanto, Eddy Hartono, Haryanto Arbi, Sigit Budiarto and Chandra Wijaya also attended Wednesday’s event.

PB Djarum chairman Joppy Rosimin said he was confident that Liliyana and Tontowi would bring home the London Olympic gold medal. “With these victories, I am sure it won’t be difficult to win the Olympics.”

In last week’s All England Open, the world No. 4 pair Liliyana and Tontowi outclassed the world No. 6 pair Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark, 21-17, 21-19 within 43 minutes.

Indonesia’s last victory in the All England mixed doubles was in 1979, when the event was won by Christian Hadinata and Imelda Wiguna.

Meanwhile, at the Swiss Open on Sunday, the Indonesians beat the world No. 9 pair Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam, 21-16, 21-14.