Thomas Cup 2010-Quarter Final( M'sia vs Denmark)

KEBANGKITAN Muhd Hafiz Hashim yang sekian lama dinanti-nantikan akhirnya tiba pada waktu yang tepat apabila dia menghadiahkan mata kemenangan negara untuk mengalahkan Denmark 3-2 pada saingan penuh getir suku akhir Piala Thomas malam tadi.

TAHNIAH...Hafiz dikerumuni rakan sepasukan selepas kalahkan Persson.
TAHNIAH...Hafiz dikerumuni rakan sepasukan selepas kalahkan Persson.
Muhd Hafiz yang sekian lama dibayangi prestasi kurang memberangsangkan sejak memenangi gelaran Seluruh England pada 2003 tampil sebagai pemain perseorangan ketiga ketika kedudukan terikat 2-2, berjaya menundukkan Joachim Persson 21-12, 21-10 untuk membawa Malaysia ke separuh akhir bertemu juara bertahan, China esok.


Bagi Hafiz, ini kejayaan paling dinanti-nantikan selama ini bagi membalas kritikan ramai pihak yang meragui kemampuannya berada dalam skuad buat kali kelima.


“Hari ini perasaan amat gembira dan puas hati kerana memastikan tempat Malaysia ke separuh akhir. Ini adalah detik terbaik untuk menebus kehampaan selepas kalah dengan Jepun sebelum ini.


“Saya puas hati dengan permainan saya hari ini. Saya terus memberi tekanan kepada Persson sejak dari awal. Saya tidak kisah diberi tugas bermain di set penentuan seperti ini, jika saya berjaya melepasi tekanan, ia memberi kepuasan kepada saya,” katanya yang turut memberi mata kemenangan ketika Malaysia mengalahkan China 3-1 pada separuh akhir Piala Thomas 2002 di Guangzhou.


Aksi cemerlang Mohd Hafiz itu mendapat pujian Penaung Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor yang terus menghubunginya sejurus permainan berakhir.


Apa yang diharapkan pemain berusia 28 tahun itu agar momentum skuad negara diteruskan apabila berdepan dengan cabaran penuh ranjau, pasukan pilihan China, nanti.


Sementara itu, ketua jurulatih kebangsaan Rashid Sidek semakin membayangkan episod kejayaan yang dilakar skuad negara ini tidak ubah seperti laluan ditempuhi ketika Malaysia melakar sejarah kali terakhir menjulang trofi Piala Thomas pada 1992 di Kuala Lumpur.


“Pada 1992 kita menewaskan Denmark, kemudian di peringkat separuh akhir, mengalahkan China dan menang dengan Indonesia di final. Ikut rekod, Malaysia pernah mengalahkan China sebelum ini, sudah pasti mereka juga gentar untuk berdepan dengan pemain kita.

“Apa perlu dilakukan kini pemain jangan dibuai dengan kejayaan ini sebaliknya fokus kepada perlawanan dengan China,” katanya.

Sumber : Harian Metro.

ll PROTON Malaysia Open 2010

Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei captured his sixth Malaysia Open title while compatriots Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong opened their 2010 campaign on a winning note on the final day of the PROTON Malaysia Open Super Series in Kuala Lumpur.

China, on the other hand, dominated the finals with three titles with Tao Jiaming-Zhang Yawen in their element to beat world champions Thomas Laybourn-Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark in the mixed doubles.

China’s other two titles came via the women’s singles and doubles.

The Putra Stadium saw its best attendance and the 6,000 strong local fans were not disappointed as Chong Wei claimed his sixth Malaysia Open title and his second consecutive Super Series title in 2010 in convincing fashion.

The Malaysian quickly asserted his superiority over Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana to take the first game 21-13 and with the Thai’s body language signalling a lost cause in the second, nailed the title with a 21-7 win in the second game.

“This is a great way to start the year with two consecutive titles,” said Chong Wei who also won last week’s season opening Korea Open in Seoul.

“My last two matches were a struggle but today was more about preparing myself mentally to face Boonsak.

“He is a very good player but I am happy with the way I kept my focus on the match to win the title.

“After this, I will prepare for the All England championships and I am equally focused on winning that as well.”

Teammates Koo-Tan, however, were stretched all the way in their 21-11, 17-21, 21-16 win over China’s Guo Zhendong-Xu Chen to claim their first title of the season. Koo-Tan did not compete in the season opening Korea Open last week.

“We want to thank the fans for their tremendous support and this win is dedicated to them,” said Koo.

“We were more adventurous at the net and the tactic worked. Having said that, the Chinese pair are definitely a pair to watch out for in the future.”

In the mixed doubles, China’s Tao Jiaming-Zhang Yawen continued their fine run in the Super Series when they upset world champions Thomas Laybourn-Kamilla Rytter Juhl 19-21, 21-18, 21-15.

In Korea, Tao-Zhang were beaten by compatriots He Hanbin-Yu Yang in the final.

Meanwhile, unseeded Chinese player Wang Xin won the women's singles title after Korea’s Bae Youn Joo retired in the third game due to an injury which team officials attributed to “chest pains.”

Youn Joo was trailing 6-14, after both players were tied one game a piece, when she conceded the match for a final score of 19-21, 21-17, 14-6 (retired).

“I am happy to win the Super Series in Malaysia as I came close to winning the Malaysia Open Grand prix Gold tournament last year,” said Wang Xin.

“This win will spur me to work harder at my game in order to win more titles.”

In an all-China women’s doubles final, Du Jing-Yu Yang beat Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli, the top seeds, 21-16, 21-12 to give China the first title of the day.

For more details,click at Official BWF Website