F

ormer Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat came out the savior to lead SGS PLN to a 3-2 win over Jaya Raya in the Djarum Superliga Badminton 2013 at DBL Arena in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday.

With the two teams tied on 2-2, Taufik delivered the decisive point by defeating Hermansyah 21-11, 17-21, 21-10 in the tournament that allows local clubs to feature foreign players in their lineup.

Taufik, who won Indonesia’s only gold medal in Athens in 2004 but who also suffered a dip in performance with his world ranking dropping to 21, was forced to play three games against the world’s number 657.

Japanese Kenichi Tago contributed the first point for SGS with a 21-13, 21-19 win over Thai Boonsak Ponsana.

The pairing of Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan earned Jaya Raya a win to equalize. The Beijing 2008 gold medalists beat Hendra Aprida and Yonathan Suryatama 21-18, 21-12.

SGS retrieved the lead after Wang Zhengming of China overcame Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand 11-21, 22-20, 21-14 but Jaya fought back through Angga Pratam and Bona Septano, who eased past Suherlan and Senatria Agus Setia 21-14, 21-13 in the doubles’ match.

In Group A, Tangkas Specs Jakarta maintained its top position after beating Djarum Kudus 4-1.

Djarum rested Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka and opted to field Andre Kurniawan Tedjono, but he failed to overcome Vietnamese Nguyen Tien Minh, loosing 21-13, 21-17.

Mohammad Ahsan/Muhammad Ulinnuha made it 1-1 with their 21-15, 21-10 victory over Maneepong Jongjit/Nipitphon Puangpuapech.

However, from that point on, Tangkas was unstoppable. Simon Santoso overpowered his young opponent Riyanto Subagja and walked away with a 21-10, 21-19 win.

Gideon Marcus Fernaldi/Wahyu Nayaka defeated Berry Angriawan/Afiat Yuris Wirawan 21-18, 21-19, and Alamsyah Yunus completed the rout with 21-13, 21-11 win over Shesar Hiren Rhustavito.

The Suryanaga squad also put up two wins in the group.

In the women’s category, Jaya Raya bounced back from a shocking defeat to pull off a 5-0 rout of the Malaysian Tigers.

The top seed remains in second place behind Unisys Badminton Club of Japan, which put the Indonesian squad down to a 4-1 loss on Monday.

With Unisys already securing a spot in the semifinals, Jaya Raya will still have to fight it out with Mutiara Bandung in Group X for the second slot. The Malaysian Tigers have already been eliminated.

Jaya Raya took a 1-0 lead over Japan’s Minatsu Mitani with a 21-13, 21-13 win over Tee Jing Yi. Pia Zebadiah/Rizki Amelia Pradipta doubled the lead with their 21-11, 17-21, 21-10 win over Amelia Alicia Amscelly/Soong Fie Choo before Busunan Ongbumrungpan, Nitya Krishinda/Anneka Feinya Agustin, and Belaetrix Manuputty swept the remaining three matches for the Jakarta-based club.