The fierce gleam in his eyes, the clenched fists after winning a point, the steady and measured steps between serves or towel sessions...all the signs were there when I first saw him on Friday...the making of an All England Champion.
Hafiz does not pump his fists at his opponents, nor shout loudly after winning a difficult rally. At most, it is just a clenched fist...or a huff showing his satisfaction.
His thoughtful play against Hock Kin and Chen Yu went unnoticed by most, as they were not at the centre court. Deep down, I guess that's how he likes it--keep a low profile and strike when the chance comes. Even back in Malaysia, all he offered the press was that he will try his best for the quarterfinals, and that he does not really like the cold.
With Tsuen Seng's defeat to Chen Hong, this is what he had to say when some of the journalists talked to him on Saturday after his victory over Chen Yu: " Tsuen Seng has shown me the way to play Chen Hong this time, his loss will not be a waste." To any fallen player, that would have to be the most comforting words. We were all very touched by his sincerity and humility, and it is difficult to imagine that he is only 20. Similarly, Tsuen Seng told the reporters that he sort of knew he might not make it past Chen Hong late in the third set, so he wanted to keep him on court for as long as possible to tire him out for Roslin and possibly Hafiz in the final. Such selfless acts by these two young players from Malaysia can only mean one thing...a bright future for Malaysian badminton. Their heads, and more importantly, their hearts are in the right place. They not only play for themselves, but they also play for each other and the country.
Hafiz's victory did not come easy in the final. Chen Hong took a 10-4 lead before Hafiz could get his shots right. Before long, Chen was leading 14-8. But with every point won, I could tell that Hafiz's confidence was growing. The whole arena was behind Hafiz as everyone could see the determination. The victory point in the second set came when Hafiz was 14-10 up, and when Chen Hong's shot hit the net, only then did he allow himself to scream with sheer delight. In the background, a tearful Misbun hugged Kim Hock, both of them living their never achieved dreams through this amazing young lad. The arena erupted with joy as their favoured son has shown that dreams can be achieved with the right attitude, right approach and humility. In the corridor on my way home, I saw a young English boy urging his father to buy him a badminton racket and some other equipment. As the corridor was relatively quiet, I could hear him saying:" Dad, I want to be like Hafiz, I want to be like Hafiz...” I did not linger around to see if the boy got what he wanted, but it was then that I realised what it takes to capture people's imagination and to be a hero, and I nearly wanted to turnaround and buy that kid what he wanted.
Hafiz does not pump his fists at his opponents, nor shout loudly after winning a difficult rally. At most, it is just a clenched fist...or a huff showing his satisfaction.
His thoughtful play against Hock Kin and Chen Yu went unnoticed by most, as they were not at the centre court. Deep down, I guess that's how he likes it--keep a low profile and strike when the chance comes. Even back in Malaysia, all he offered the press was that he will try his best for the quarterfinals, and that he does not really like the cold.
With Tsuen Seng's defeat to Chen Hong, this is what he had to say when some of the journalists talked to him on Saturday after his victory over Chen Yu: " Tsuen Seng has shown me the way to play Chen Hong this time, his loss will not be a waste." To any fallen player, that would have to be the most comforting words. We were all very touched by his sincerity and humility, and it is difficult to imagine that he is only 20. Similarly, Tsuen Seng told the reporters that he sort of knew he might not make it past Chen Hong late in the third set, so he wanted to keep him on court for as long as possible to tire him out for Roslin and possibly Hafiz in the final. Such selfless acts by these two young players from Malaysia can only mean one thing...a bright future for Malaysian badminton. Their heads, and more importantly, their hearts are in the right place. They not only play for themselves, but they also play for each other and the country.
Hafiz's victory did not come easy in the final. Chen Hong took a 10-4 lead before Hafiz could get his shots right. Before long, Chen was leading 14-8. But with every point won, I could tell that Hafiz's confidence was growing. The whole arena was behind Hafiz as everyone could see the determination. The victory point in the second set came when Hafiz was 14-10 up, and when Chen Hong's shot hit the net, only then did he allow himself to scream with sheer delight. In the background, a tearful Misbun hugged Kim Hock, both of them living their never achieved dreams through this amazing young lad. The arena erupted with joy as their favoured son has shown that dreams can be achieved with the right attitude, right approach and humility. In the corridor on my way home, I saw a young English boy urging his father to buy him a badminton racket and some other equipment. As the corridor was relatively quiet, I could hear him saying:" Dad, I want to be like Hafiz, I want to be like Hafiz...” I did not linger around to see if the boy got what he wanted, but it was then that I realised what it takes to capture people's imagination and to be a hero, and I nearly wanted to turnaround and buy that kid what he wanted.
