Hafiz aims to wrap up the year by beating Chong Wei for SEA Games gold

TheStar

KUALA LUMPUR: In his first international tournament this year, Mohd Hafiz Hashim defeated Lee Chong Wei to reach the German Open final in February.

Now, he plans to wrap up his campaign this year by beating the same player at the Manila SEA Games. But it will be easier said than done.

Chong Wei, the top seed in the men's singles event at the Manila Games, has been going great guns in recent times but in two meetings this year, Hafiz has won once – in the German Open – and lost the other, in the Danish Open.

Hafiz, the second seed, can make it an all-Malaysia final for the first time in many years in the Games.

The Indonesians, Malaysia's main rivals, will not have Taufik Hidayat and will be banking instead on Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso.

Hafiz is determined to save his best for his last international competition of the year

“Initially, there were doubts whether I would be competing in the SEA Games because of my knee injury.

“But I am looking forward to the Games. My target is nothing short of winning the individual gold,” said Hafiz.

“I would also like to help the men's team achieve the same goal.”

Hafiz competed in the Dutch Open last month despite pain on his right knee and went on to win the title. It was his third title after also emerging champion in the back-to-back Swiss and Thailand Opens in March.

After the Dutch outing, he lost to Chong Wei in the Danish Open.

On the local scene, Hafiz has not beaten the two-time Malaysian Open champion Chong Wei in the last two years.

“Whenever the knee pain surfaces, I go for a good “urut” (massage). I have had a good rest after the Danish Open (he skipped the ongoing China Open in Guangzhou),” said Hafiz, who returned to training on Monday after the Hari Raya break.

Hafiz, who has received a first round bye, is expected to take on defending champion Dwi Kuncoro in the last four. Both have played three times with Hafiz winning twice.

The other contenders at the Manila Games will be Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand and Vietnam's top player Nguyen Tien Minh.

Malaysia last won a SEA Games singles through Mohd Roslin Hashim at the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Games.