ants
10-11-2005, 07:54 PM
TheStar Oct 12' 05
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Mohd Hafiz Hashim has been down and out since his third-round exit in the World Championships two months ago.
And the Dutch Open, which begins today, will be a good platform for him to mount a comeback ahead of the challenges in the Manila SEA Games (Nov 27-Dec 5).
Hafiz and national number one Lee Chong Wei have been picked to carry the Malaysian challenge to wrest the Games men’s singles gold medal from Indonesia.
Hafiz’s elder brother Roslin had ended a 28-year-old wait for Malaysia when he won the gold medal in the 2001 Games in Kuala Lumpur. But Sony Dwi Kuncoro beat Wong Choong Hann to take top honours for Indonesia again in Vietnam two years later.
Veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah will be defending the Games men’s doubles title. The other Malaysian pair in the fray are Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat.
For the women’s singles, Wong Mew Choo will defend the title and the other Malaysian entry is M. Sutheaswari.
The women’s doubles entries are Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Mooi Hing Yau-Ooi Sock Ai.
National chief coach Yap Kim Hock, who announced the entries yesterday, said that he hoped Hafiz would be able to win his third title on the World Grand Prix Circuit this year after the Thailand and Swiss Opens.
“There are not many strong players in the Dutch Open and Hafiz must seize on the opportunity to win it.
“It will be good for his self-confidence ahead of the Manila Games,” said Kim Hock.
As the only top 10 ranked player in the men’s singles field, Hafiz is the top seed ahead of Japanese Shoji Sato.
It should be a breeze for the 23-year-old Hafiz to the semi-finals where he is tipped to play against Indonesia-born Dicky Palyama of Holland.
Hafiz was not entered for any competition after his outing in the World Championships because of a recurring knee injury.
“Hafiz has no problem now and I hope he can live up to expectations in the Dutch Open and also in the Danish Open (next week),” said Kim Hock.
“It is important that we have a strong second singles player other than Chong Wei to challenge for the men’s singles title at the SEA Games.”
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Mohd Hafiz Hashim has been down and out since his third-round exit in the World Championships two months ago.
And the Dutch Open, which begins today, will be a good platform for him to mount a comeback ahead of the challenges in the Manila SEA Games (Nov 27-Dec 5).
Hafiz and national number one Lee Chong Wei have been picked to carry the Malaysian challenge to wrest the Games men’s singles gold medal from Indonesia.
Hafiz’s elder brother Roslin had ended a 28-year-old wait for Malaysia when he won the gold medal in the 2001 Games in Kuala Lumpur. But Sony Dwi Kuncoro beat Wong Choong Hann to take top honours for Indonesia again in Vietnam two years later.
Veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah will be defending the Games men’s doubles title. The other Malaysian pair in the fray are Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat.
For the women’s singles, Wong Mew Choo will defend the title and the other Malaysian entry is M. Sutheaswari.
The women’s doubles entries are Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Mooi Hing Yau-Ooi Sock Ai.
National chief coach Yap Kim Hock, who announced the entries yesterday, said that he hoped Hafiz would be able to win his third title on the World Grand Prix Circuit this year after the Thailand and Swiss Opens.
“There are not many strong players in the Dutch Open and Hafiz must seize on the opportunity to win it.
“It will be good for his self-confidence ahead of the Manila Games,” said Kim Hock.
As the only top 10 ranked player in the men’s singles field, Hafiz is the top seed ahead of Japanese Shoji Sato.
It should be a breeze for the 23-year-old Hafiz to the semi-finals where he is tipped to play against Indonesia-born Dicky Palyama of Holland.
Hafiz was not entered for any competition after his outing in the World Championships because of a recurring knee injury.
“Hafiz has no problem now and I hope he can live up to expectations in the Dutch Open and also in the Danish Open (next week),” said Kim Hock.
“It is important that we have a strong second singles player other than Chong Wei to challenge for the men’s singles title at the SEA Games.”