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Girlfriend Xie leaps to defence of Dan

(AFP)
Updated: 2006-12-03 10:43

DOHA - Badminton world champion Xie Xingfang leapt to the defence of her boyfriend Lin Dan yesterday after he was accused of being arrogant and widely disliked, calling his accuser Taufik Hidayat "cold".

Lin Dan (left) and Xie Xingfang. [Xinhua]

The 25-year-old was replying to an extraordinary personal attack on world No.1 Lin, known as "Super Dan", by Indonesia's Olympic champion Taufik.

Taufik, who has a reputation as the 'bad boy' of badminton, on Friday slammed Lin as arrogant and said he was widely disliked by other players.

Taufik Hidayat [Reuters]

Xie had an equally hard-hitting response.

"If we're talking about arrogance and cold personality then I definitely think that Taufik is worse than Lin Dan," said Xie.

Xie also blasted Taufik's temperament which has seen him walk off court before, as in Hong Kong in September when he picked up his bags and stormed out of his quarter-final against Lin after only five points.

"Lin Dan wouldn't just give up a match like Taufik. That is rude to the spectators and rude to fans," said Xie

Xie, whose love tryst with Lin has led to comparisons with football glamour couple Victoria and David Beckham had been stung into action by Taufik's astonishing tirade.

"I don't like Lin," said Taufik, who is the defending Asian Games champion.

"He's just a good player - off the courts I don't think he's a good person. Many players don't like Lin Dan. He's arrogant and he doesn't talk to you."

"I know he's a good player, yes, he's the world No.1, but he's not nice to other players," added Taufik, who is playing his last Asian Games.

Lin later downed Taufik 2-1 as China went on to win the clash 3-1 in the men's team competition in front of a noisy Indonesian crowd.

After the match, Lin cooled on his previous outburst, saying he was too busy concentrating on his game to worry about his opponent.

"Everybody has a different personality," he said of Taufik. "Outside of the court doesn't really concern me, and I don't want to be distracted by things like that."

Xie was also in feisty form over why she was nicknamed "Beauty".

"If you play well, people will think you are pretty. If you don't play well, people don't think that," she said.

Xie was speaking after leading China to a 5-0 cleansweep over Indonesia in their group team match at the Asian Games.

Xie beat her opponent Adriyanti Firdasari 21-13, 21-13 and indicated she still had plenty in reserve.

"I haven't woken up yet. I am still half asleep."