Tontowi/Liliyana Still Aim at Champions at Home

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Having performed three times at home, Indonesian's best mixed doubles Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir admit they are still taking at long awaited championship at home at BCA Indonesia Open Super Series Premier 2014 (BIOSSP).

In 2011, Tontowi/Liliyana was defeated by China's mixed doubles Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei in the final. The next year, the 2013 world's champion doubles was halted by Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam from Thailand.

Meanwhile, in 2013,  the mixed doubles who succeeded in scoring hattrick at All England 2012, 2013 and 2014 was defeated by Joachim Fischer  Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen (Denmark)  in the semifinal.

"Frankly, we are still curious. We could make hattrick at All England, I wonder why we can't at home? Perhaps as a home team, we want to give the best, but  it turns out to be a pressure" Liliyana said at BIOSSP press conference at  Kempinski Hotel, Monday, (2/6).

"Eventhough curious, we don't want to take this excessively. When we have given the best but the result is not what we have expected, perhaps it's a matter of time. We have to give the best first at the moment," she added.

To make their dream come true, Tontowi/Liliyana admit they are more well prepared for the 750,000 dollar tournament. Not only do Tontowi/Liliyana practice technical and physical practice,  but also do they keep on focusing for the matches.

"Honestly, whether or not we will play, we are always ready by practicing both technical and physical, but preparing for big events, we tend to keep our focus instead. The previous defeats become valuable lessons, we don't want to think other things which potentially distract our focus," Liliyana stated.

"We want to bring back the trophy, but we don't want to overly excite. Our  preparation is well done, all we have to do is to put it on a test. We avoid  underestimating opponents, whoever our opponents will be, we have to be ready  and be alert," Tontowi added.

BIOSSP 2014 will be held at Istora Senayan Stadium, Jakarta, June 17-22 2014. Besides Tontowi/Liliyana, first world rank men's doubles Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan will also take part at the tournament.