Hidayat outburst over media no-show

Badminton star Taufik Hidayat angrily lashed media Wednesday for giving him a "bad name" after he missed a press conference, while Chinese legend Lin Dan offered a grovelling apology.

Hidayat said Indonesian press had accused him of lacking professionalism for not meeting journalists before this week's Singapore Open, but he insisted he was never told about Monday's media commitment. The outspoken 2004 Olympic gold medallist opened fire immediately after scraping through his first-round match 22-24, 21-12, 21-18 against Malaysian qualifier Daren Liew. "I'm sorry about not coming for the press conference on Monday, but the media said I'm not professional. How come I'm not professional?" Hidayat asked.

"You tell me one hour before (about the press conference) so why do you write in the Indonesian media that I'm not professional? It gives me a bad name," he fumed.

"It's big. In Indonesia, badminton is big. My name is bad about it through the media. I never said 'no' to the press conference."

A tournament official said Hidayat and defending champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro were never told about the press commitment, which China's Lin skipped with a stomach upset.

"If the player did not receive the message it's not the fault of the player," said media director Rose Tan. India's Saina Nehwal turned up so late the press conference room was closed, while five Chinese players who did come for interview looked bad-tempered and angered journalists with their short answers.

The incidents provided further negative headlines for badminton after its much-criticised attempt to force women players to wear skirts, in a bid to attract more fans.

AFP