New Straits Times » Sport Badminton: Hafiz is not world class, says Misbun - Lee Keng Fatt May 26: NATIONAL singles chief coach Misbun Sidek believes that Hafiz Hashim is far from being able to stamp his mark at the world level and will not start as favourite for the rescheduled badminton World Championships in Birmingham on July 28-Aug 5. This, Misbun said, was despite the 20-year-old Kelantan player winning two international titles in England in eight months — the gold medal at the Manchester Commonwealth Games last July and the All-England title in early February. "Hafiz is still far from being a world class player," said Misbun in Penang yesterday. "Yes, he won two presitigious events but they are nothing more than surprise victories. "Hafiz is still inconsistent with his game and this will not help in making him a world champion ... if he aspires to do so." Misbun was not specific but it is understood that Hafiz's early exits from the recent Japan and Korean Opens was worrying the coach. In the Japan Open in March, Hafiz lost in the second round to China's Chen Yu and then fell to a shocking defeat to unfancied Hong Kong player Yohan Hadikusuma Wiratama in the first round of the Korean Open. Hafiz also disappointed in the Busan Asian Games last October where he crashed out in the quarter-finals to Indonesian Taufik Hidayat. Still, Misbun feels all is not lost for Hafiz. "All that (defeats) doesn't mean that Hafiz has no hope. He has every chance of making good in Birmingham again. "Hafiz needs to keep training very hard to enhance his performances and bring it to a higher level. "The World Championships is still two months away so there is still time for the shuttlers to sharpen up their game," said Misbun. Apart from Hafiz, Malaysia's other shuttlers going to the World Championships are Wong Choon Hann and Lee Tsuen Seng. Malaysia's doubles hopes at the championships rest with Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah. Wong Mew Choo is Malaysia's sole representative in the women's single while Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty will play in the doubles. Misbun also reminded his three Birmingham-bound players that they must finish in the top three in the BAM Elite Challenge next month. Having been picked for the World Championships, Misbun said the trio should finish among the top in the home tournament which will be played on a league format. Following the postponement of the Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia Opens due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, Misbun said the players will have to focus on the Elite Challenge apart from their daily training. "This is inevitable especially now that that the international competitions have been postponed," he said.
New Straits Times » Sport Badminton: Choong: Misbun is right about Hafiz - Lee Keng Fatt May 27: FORMER All-England champion Eddy Choong yesterday said national coach Misbun Sidek had made the right assessment of Hafiz Hashim, who is down to compete in the World championships in Birmingham in August. And Choong believes it’s about time Hafiz listens to his chief coach if he aspires to be a world class player. “Misbun is quite right when he said that Hafiz is far from being able to stamp his mark at the world level and need to check his consistency to do so. I know Misbun is right. He has been under my tutelage and he knows what he’s talking about,” said Choong in Penang yesterday. “Hafiz should listen to him ... that’s the only way to improve,” said Choong. Inconsistency, Choong lamented, has been one of the drawbacks of the Malaysian badminton scene and this needs to be ironed out. Most of the players, according to Choong, “do not think as much as we did during our playing days” and that resulted in their disappointing performancesin the world badminton scene. “They don’t seem to ask why they win and lose in certain matches against the same shuttler. “Neither did they ask themselves why they can beat one but not the other player. “I find it strange why our shuttlers refuse to think and assess their opponents’ strength before entering the court. “I do that and that’s why I was able to win the All-England title for so many times. “I wonder whether these players were ever taught to think or not in the first place?,” said Choong, who played in 12 All-England finals, winning four singles titles in 1953-54 and 1956-1957 as well as winning the doubles with his brother David Choong from 1951 to 1953. Choong was commenting on Misbun’s assessment of Hafiz, whom he (Misbun) had indicated would probably not start as the favourite for the rescheduled World Championships in Birmingham on July 28-Aug 5. To win the World Championships, Misbun said Hafiz needs to keep training very hard to enhance his performance and bring it to a higher level. The other Birmingham-bound Malaysians shuttlers are Wong Choon Hann and Lee Tsuen Seng and doubles Chew Choon Eng-Chan Chong Ming and Lee Wan Wah-Choong Tan Fook, women’s singles Wong Mew Choo and doubles Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty. The 20-year-old Hafiz has won two international titles in England — the gold medal at the Manchester Commonwealth Games last July and the All-England title in February and is now one of the favourites to notch his third title during the World Championships. However, Choong shares Misbun’s optimism that Hafiz has tremendous potential of making good in Birmingham. “But all this will not count if Hafiz fails to realise what is expected of him. “He has the physical and talent but without any mental strength, he will never be the world class player we want him to be,” said Choong. In fact, Choong has recently challenged Hafiz to beat his seven All-England titles feat, saying he did so because “I see at least another 10 good years ahead of him.” The problem is Hafiz has not been as convincing as he should be since winning the All-England title three months ago. The Kelantanese has since failed to win any competitions which the BA of Malaysia (BAM) had sent him to. He had failed to lift up to the expectations in the Malaysia Games in Sabah and the Busan Asian Games last October and also crashed out in the early rounds of the Singapore, Japan and Korean Opens.
Intersting comments, obviuosley the coaches are playing mind games with this sort of public statement, either trying to relieve the expectation on Hafiz or motivate him to prove them wrong. It is crazy to say "Hafiz is still far from being a world class player," when he has beaten the worlds best at the All England. I think the days of a couple of players dominating the circuit are gone, but if you had to name players capable of winning the WC Hafiz would be one, and given that the venue is that of his big AE win he has to be a favourite. Now that surely makes him a world class player.
I would agree with both Eddy's and Misbune's assessments. You have to be consistently good to be considered world class. Winning two or three tourneys (as presitigious as the AE) do not make a world class player. Take Camilla and Peter G. Now, these two are so consistent over the years but they don't win all the tournaments but are consistent with getting through to finals/semis, etc.
I suppose it depends how you define world class WWC, I tend to think if you have beaten the top players and are capable of winning a world event like AE, Denmark Open, WC etc then you are world class. I would say being consistent over a number of years winning/competing for majors puts you into the "greats" bracket.
Somehow I agree with dlp that Hafiz should be considered world class and the rather seemingly disappointing comments from Misbun and Eddy Choong are probably meant to push him to greater heights. Currently, if you have won an international event as prestigious as the AE, which has the participation of so many top players from all over the world and you win, you must belong to the class of the world. If Chen Hong is world-class and you beat him after beating all others on your way to the Finals, you can't be less than world-class. Admittedly, Hafiz has been rather inconsistent and maybe he has underestimated some of his opponents which partly caused his downfall. He should be wiser by now. But time and again, we have witnessed the ups and downs of great players either through a loss of form or because of injury. Chen, Xia, Gade and other world-class players had such experiences before and Gade is still struggling to return to his peak form. You surely can't dismiss Gade as world-class! But Hafiz will be ignobly pushed into the "Has-Been" category if he is unable to return to form and exhibit his prowess on the court.
Harsh words but some what true. If those are the words that need to be thrown at him to push him to train harder and be more consistant, then so be it. In order to be a world class player you do need alot of consistancy. I believe Matt Ross setup a thread saying Chen Hong is not all that great but look at all the tournaments he won. He didn't win 2-3 tournies and get there. It takes quite awhile.
Oh Hafiz Misbun and Eddy certainly are trying to fire up this youngster before the WC as no Malaysian has ever win this prestigious title. Cetainly Hafiz has the tools to achieve the goal as demonstrated in All England Championship 2003. There's no doubt in mind that the 3 Malaysians Wong Choon Hann, Hafiz Hashim and Lee Tsuen Seng are world class players, they may not be the fauvorite to win the title but you can't never count them out as the current ranking system may turn he whole event upside down? I think Hafiz is going thru what Olympic Champion Ji Xinpeng had gone thru, flooded with rewards and praises and lack of concentration. Lets hope Hafiz will not be like Ji. Malaysia boleh!
Malaysian players must not be pampered. Look at what happened after 1992. Hafiz can easily go down the wrong trail and end up in ruin. Misbun has to be strict, and he must be doing this for a reason, it is Misbun who knows Hafiz best, his behaviour and temperament. Also, Choon Hann and Lee TS are also going through a strict regime. Everyone has to be disciplined to scale greater heights. Chinese and Korean players are highly disciplined, Indonesians and Danish are very passionate. Malaysian players are sometimes lacking in these departments.
