BADMINTON: Hafiz still remains an enigma

Julia Wong lost a golden opportunity to secure her first international title.

LAST week's India Open in Hyderabad was clearly a test of character for Hafiz Hashim (below) and while he has not done really enough to impress the BA of Malaysia (BAM), there was a positive intent from the struggling shuttler.

Hafiz was not expected to reach the final but his path was made easier after World No 1 Lee Chong Wei's exit, due to food poisoning, in the first round to Chen Long of China.

Had Chong Wei not suffered the ailment, he could have gone on to meet Hafiz in the semi-finals and that probably would have ended the latter's run.

However, Hafiz remains unpredictable as his failure to take advantage of a winning situation coming for the first time in more than two years, still baffles many.

His fitness level looked better while his laid back style did help him play without much pressure, but the same attitude had also cost him the title.
Hafiz was taken to three games by Andre Kurniawan Tedjono of Indonesia in the last eight, and Chen Long in the last four and this was due to his tendency to take things too lightly when in control of a match.

The Malaysian had the measure of eventual winner Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia for most part of Sunday's final, winning points easily with his trademark smashes.

However, he also conceded points easily which allowed Taufik to close the match in two games despite the former Olympic champion not being at his best.

Nevertheless, national singles coach Mibun Sidek could believe that Hafiz is on the comeback trail and may be tempted to give him another shot at the national team but this decision can only be finalised after the Asian Championships in Suwon on Apr 7-12.

This is because Hafiz has the habit of, after playing well in a tournament, retreating into a shell and producing another round of below-par performances.

This riddle will be solved if Hafiz can perform again in a tougher competition in Suwon where the likes of China's Bao Chunlai and Chen Jin as well as South Korea's Park Sung-hwan will be around to test his character again.

As for Kuan Beng Hong, who is also under the microscope, he had the chance to cement his place in the national team as he had Taufik by the jugular in the quarter-finals only to succumb to pressure and lose in three games.

He will have to do better in the Asian Championships or will have to forget about his place in the national team.

Julia Wong also lost a golden opportunity to secure her first international title against veteran Pi Hongyan of France.

Julia's battling qualities are there for all to see, and her consistency has improved, but she needs to add some variation into her attack or she will find it difficult to keep up with the top players.

Veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah's win is an indication that Malaysia's back-up pairs -- five competed in the India Open -- are still way below in terms of quality.

Tournaments like the India Open are where pairs like Tan Wee Kiong-Mak Hee Chun, Khoo Chung Chiat-Ong Soon Hock, Go Wei Shem-Ong Soon Hock and Hoon Thien How-Lin Woon Fui should aim to do well but are not doing so.

NST