KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Mohd Hafiz Hashim was hailed as the hero when he last played in a men’s team event in Guangzhou eight years ago.
And he hopes that good fortune will come his way again when he competes in the Asian Games at the same city.
Hafiz Hashim when he was Malaysia's hero in the 2002 Thomas Cup Finals in Guangzhou. Hafiz is the second ranked singles player in the Malaysian team behind Lee Chong Wei. The other singles players in the side are Chan Kwong Beng and Liew Daren.
The doubles players in the team are Koo Kien Keat, Tan Boon Heong, Mak Hee Chun, Tan Wee Kiong and Chan Peng Soon.
Hafiz knows that a lot of things have changed, especially on the public perception against him after his famous win over Bao Chunlai in the 2002 Thomas Cup semi-final tie against China, which Malaysia won 3-2, in Guangzhou.
Malaysia went on to lose 2-3 against Indonesia in the final but it was the year that saw the young Hafiz soaring to become the country’s top player.
In recent years, the performance of the 2003 All-England champion has gone downhill due to injuries, poor form and lack of self-confidence.
But Hafiz, who was beaten in the quarter-finals at the recent Delhi Commonwealth Games by India’s P. Kashyap, chooses to be optimistic about his ability to do well in the Guangzhou Asiad.
“The team draw is good and I hope to play my role well. I was in the team who won the bronze medal at 2006 Doha Games and hopefully, we can go one step better,” he said.
Malaysia are seeded second in one half of the draw comprising South Korea, Thailand and Japan. The other half has defending champions China and Indonesia.
Hafiz hopes that he will also enjoy good fortune in the individual event and end an elusive chase for a medal.
In a half of the draw with second seed Lin Dan of China, Hafiz has in his quarter defending champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, South Korean Park Sung-hwan and Japan’s Kenichi Tago.
“I may meet Park or Tago in the second round. My aim is to try to win at least a bronze and it will be very tough indeed,” said Hafiz.
And he hopes that good fortune will come his way again when he competes in the Asian Games at the same city.
Hafiz Hashim when he was Malaysia's hero in the 2002 Thomas Cup Finals in Guangzhou.The doubles players in the team are Koo Kien Keat, Tan Boon Heong, Mak Hee Chun, Tan Wee Kiong and Chan Peng Soon.
Hafiz knows that a lot of things have changed, especially on the public perception against him after his famous win over Bao Chunlai in the 2002 Thomas Cup semi-final tie against China, which Malaysia won 3-2, in Guangzhou.
Malaysia went on to lose 2-3 against Indonesia in the final but it was the year that saw the young Hafiz soaring to become the country’s top player.
In recent years, the performance of the 2003 All-England champion has gone downhill due to injuries, poor form and lack of self-confidence.
But Hafiz, who was beaten in the quarter-finals at the recent Delhi Commonwealth Games by India’s P. Kashyap, chooses to be optimistic about his ability to do well in the Guangzhou Asiad.
“The team draw is good and I hope to play my role well. I was in the team who won the bronze medal at 2006 Doha Games and hopefully, we can go one step better,” he said.
Malaysia are seeded second in one half of the draw comprising South Korea, Thailand and Japan. The other half has defending champions China and Indonesia.
Hafiz hopes that he will also enjoy good fortune in the individual event and end an elusive chase for a medal.
In a half of the draw with second seed Lin Dan of China, Hafiz has in his quarter defending champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, South Korean Park Sung-hwan and Japan’s Kenichi Tago.
“I may meet Park or Tago in the second round. My aim is to try to win at least a bronze and it will be very tough indeed,” said Hafiz.
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