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BADMINTON: Hafiz crashes in final

Men’s doubles champions Lee Wan Wah (left) and Choong Tan Fook pose with their medals and award cheque in Hyderabad yesterday. The Malaysian pair defeated Singapore’s Hendri Kurniawan and Hendra Wijaya 21-9, 21-11. — AFPpic
Men’s doubles champions Lee Wan Wah (left) and Choong Tan Fook pose with their medals and award cheque in Hyderabad yesterday. The Malaysian pair defeated Singapore’s Hendri Kurniawan and Hendra Wijaya 21-9, 21-11. — AFPpic

HAFIZ Hashim's attempt to win his first international crown was thwarted by former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia but veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah saved the day for Malaysia by capturing the India Open doubles crown in Hyderabad yesterday.

Hafiz's focus wavered at crucial stages which allowed Taufik to snatch a 21-18, 21-19 win in 30 minutes to claim his first title as a professional.

However, Tan Fook-Wan Wah played as though they were in a hurry to catch their flight home thrashing Singapore's Hendri Kurniawan-Hendra Wijaya 21-9, 21-11 in just 17 minutes.

Julia Wong earlier blew a chance of capturing her first international crown when she was beaten 17-21, 21-15, 21-14 in 54 minutes.

But the focus was on Hafiz, who was fighting to save his career and the Malaysian started off well giving Taufik little chances and it could have been different had he taken advantage of a 17-15 lead when the Indonesian was under pressure at that stage.
However, Hafiz's chances were virtually over when he sent three straight returns wide and Taufik went on to capture the crown.

Tan Fook-Wan Wah had little to worry about as it was their easiest victory in a final. They had also won the 2008 Vietnam Open.

"We came up expecting a tough battle as our record with Hendri-Hendra is 1-1 and we just wanted to get prepared and play our best," said Wan Wah.

"We are happy to have won the title and, hopefully, this would help us gain a place in the World Championships here."

The World Championships will be held in Hyderabad on Aug 10-15 and based on this result, Tan Fook-Wan Wah should get the nod with World No 5 Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and World No 6 Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan Tazari.

China secured their only title in the women's doubles when Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli beat Vita Marissa-Nadya Melati of Indonesia 21-14, 21-13.

Vita later partnered Flandy Limpele to win the mixed doubles beating India's V. Diju-Jwala Gupta 21-14, 21-17.

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