From TheStar Online: "Time for the BAM to discard unproductive seniors By RAJES PAUL KUALA TERENGGANU: A change of guard is set to take place in the men’s singles department of the national team following insipid performances by several senior shuttlers in the Proton National Grand Prix Finals, which ended here on Sunday. The end is nigh for James Chua, K. Yogendran and Yeoh Kay Bin and players from the Project 2010-12 squad are set to make their breakthrough into the national team. James’ tame 24-minute defeat by Lee Chong Wei in the semi-finals showed that he is no longer up to the mark while Yogendran hardly showed any substance in his defeat by Mohd Hafiz Hashim. A hardworking Kay Bin, who has been in the national team for almost a decade, was down with fever and lost to James in the semi-finals. But he also does not have any good results to stake a claim for a longer stay in the national team. Waiting in the wings: Tan Chun Seang and Lim Kenn (below, right) are some of the Project 2010-12 players on the verge of joining the national senior team. In fact, even Kuan Beng Hong’s position in the national team hangs in the balance. He was beaten by back-up shuttler Liew Daren and immediately withdrew from the Finals because of fever. It is time for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to rope in the back-up players. By concentrating on them, at least, there is some hope for the future. If at all the BAM want to retain the seniors, they could be hired as sparring partners. The Project squad’s chief coach, Rashid Sidek, said that some of his players were on the verge of joining the national team. Among them are Tan Chun Seang, Lim Kenn, Liew Daren, Choong Wei Feng, Beryno Wong, Chong Li Qun, Teo Kok Seng and Mohd Hafiz Shaharudin. “I have decided to send some of the players to Misbun (Sidek). Currently, he (Misbun ) has only one player (Mohd Hafiz Hashim) under his charge,” said Rashid. “It will be good for these back-up players to be groomed by Misbun. After all, Misbun prefers to coach youngsters. It is time to push these back-up players. Having them in the national team will help raise their standards as they will get more opportunities to compete.” While changes are expected to take place, Malaysia’s hopes for honours in international tournaments this year will still rest on the shoulders of five-time national champion Lee Chong Wei, Hafiz and Wong Choong Hann. Hafiz showed some of his good attacking shots and aggression even though he lost to Chong Wei in the final. And it augurs well for Hafiz, who is determined to lift his game to a higher level this year."
Agreed. Talented but not consistent Maybe with my full support as his die-hard fan this year, he will start to shine again, who knows
we'll c whether he'll shine this year onot... useless for him to brag n brag but still showing crap to everybody...
yep....crap all year thru. mayb he'd made a deal with the devil that allowed him to win AE once and after that will only give crappy n yoyoyee performance for the rest of his badminton career...... come on HH....win another AE with KKK/TBH.
Yeahh, come on HH...show us your true potential in this coming AE Anyway, just copy this news from BAM website: " 12/02/07, 12:45:36 By K. M. Boopathy LEE Chong Wei secured a record fifth consecutive National Grand Prix title and a convincing victory over Hafiz Hashim at Negri Stadium in Kuala Terengganu yesterday. Chong Wei beat Hafiz 21-14, 21-15 in 35 minutes and also surprised everyone when he announced he will not defend his title in August this year. Chong Wei, 25, equalled Foo Kok Keong’s four consecutive wins when he won the title in Kota Kinabalu by beating Yeoh Kay Bin in 2005. Hafiz’s chances of ending Chong Wei’s unbeaten run on the local circuit since 2003 took a blow after an ankle injury reduced the 25-year-old into a defensive stance. Hafiz showed glimpses of brilliance that won him the 2003 All-England title, especially in the second game, but it was not enough. Chong Wei, who wants to focus on the World Championships and the Beijing Olympics next year, wants to skip the local tournaments this year "I have achieved my target to win a fifth title and my hope is that BA of Malaysia will allow me to skip the local circuit this year," said Chong Wei. "The schedule is hectic this year as I have to focus on the World Championships, super series tournaments and also prepare for next year’s Olympics. "I need to regain my confidence on the international circuit and I don’t think it will be possible to focus on the local circuit." In the women’s singles, Wong Mew Choo secured her fourth title after beating national junior champion Lydia Cheah 21-12, 21-13 in 30 minutes. RESULTS (all finals): Men’s singles: Lee Chong Wei (Pg) bt Hafiz Hashim (Sel) 21-14, 21-15; Doubles: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Pk-Sel) bt Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock (Sel) 21-12, 21-15. Women's singles: Wong Mew Choo (Sel) bt Lydia Cheah (KL) 21-12, 21-13; Doubles: Julia Wong-Haw Chiou Hwee (Mal-Joh) bt Fong Chew Yen-See Phui Leng (Ked-Sel) 21-16, 25-23. Mixed doubles: Koo Kien Keat-Wong Pei Tty (Pk) bt Zakry Latif-Ooi Sock Ai (NS-Pg) 21-15, 21-15. Courtesy of New Straits Times Online"
If HH was under Morten Frost or Li Mao.....LCW might not b a national champ already. Both LCW n HH are the most talented MS of MAS, but HH has a better physical body compared to LCW, just that HH loved to play slow and lazy like his coach.
Agree with you. Both are very talented but Hafiz is physically better than LCW.Not to discredit LCW, IMHO, Hafiz should be a national champ not LCW if we look at Hafiz's true potential :crying:
IMO Hafiz is too slow in his footwork or he cant maintain his fast footwork throughout the whole game. All he has to improve is his physical fitness and work out his speed in his footwork. Stil remember Fang Kai Xiang (spelling not sure is correct)? He was the coach for MAS when MAS won the thomas cup in 1992. When he 1st got the job and observed all our MAS players, the 1st thing he said to all of them is they werent fit enough to play professional badminton coz they were TOO WEAK in the footwork (strength to maintain the speed throughout the whole game). Nevertheless FKX said they all have the talents and the fitness on the upper part of the body.
If not mistaken, FKX also said that MAS players have one the best skills and talents in the world but physically, we're really "TERUK"...(horrible)
Are u sure MAS teams is so "TERUK" .Don't judge them like that,it sound unfair.They already try their best.Wan't it or not that MAS teams.You should support them.Be positive.If MAS is really horrible.How come LCW once a world no 1,unseeded Hafiz Hashim win 2003 AE .We won Thomas cup in 1992 and recently our MD beat lot of top seed.Need to say more???.They maybe not the best but at least MAS is one of badminton power house.Not so bad right???.We should support them.
it was around 15 yrs ago. It has nothing to do with LCW or HH......It's Rashid's time.....And we bash them sometimes coz we love and support them, alright?
I also mean at that times,dun we had a great player that times??, sidek bro is best in defense right???,lol i forgot u're the best Mas basher in this bc .I better support u so tat i won't be bash by u..
Source: NST Online "Badminton/All England Championships: Hafiz must start believing in himself again 07 Mar 2007 K.M Boopathy HAFIZ Hashim must start believing in himself and explore to the fullest his potential if he hopes to capture a second All England title in Birmingham. Coach Misbun Sidek said it was this attitude that won the Malaysian the title in 2003. Misbun said that Hafiz (picture) can achieve his target, despite the tough draw, if he comes out his comfort zone, especially now that Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat is no longer in the reckoning. Hafiz still has to play another Indonesian, Sony Dwi Kuncoro, in the second round and the in-form World No 1 Lin Dan of China in the last eight, but Misbun believes his charge has the game to beat them both. "There is no doubt that Hafiz is a special talent but he must realise this and start exploring his full potential. He did that here in 2003 and his revival can start here again," said Misbun by telephone from Birmingham yesterday. "Of course it will tough to overcome Sony and Lin Dan. He (Lin Dan) didn’t have to play in the German Open but used it as warm-up and won. That shows how confident he is and he will be at his best in the All-England. "Lin Dan has the edge but if Hafiz plays to his ability, we can look forward to a surprise." Hafiz was to open his campaign against Taufik but with the latter’s withdrawal the Malaysian instead now opens against New Zealand’s John Moody which should be a walk in the park. Hafiz has beaten Sony four times in five head-to-head meetings but his record against Lin Dan is seven meetings seven losses. Hafiz, on his day, can beat the best but will still need to draw inspiration from his 2003 success to put Lin Dan in the shade. " It's time to go & win Bro Hafiz
Hafiz is weak with low shots, and that includes many of his silly trick shots and almost all shots taken at below tape height. He is very, very strong at anything above the net. Smart players will explore his low shots weakness. Maybe his height and reluctance to explore the "bottoms" wreak havoc on his eye coordination.
hahaha at least you also concern about Hafiz when you did that nobody pay much attention to him lately, poor Bro Hafiz :crying:
Hafiz failed again in the recent AE. Without winning anything, he is injured. Looks like he has to improve on his playing style, stamina, mental strength and confidence.. If not, everyone will continue to say that his 2003 AE title is jus a freak.. Find back for hunger for success, and you can continue winning again!
Hafiz needs a better coach n more stamina! asking Hafiz to change his style of play is like asking Fernando Alonso to change his driving style I think...
