NEWS : Farewell, Hashim brothers

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  1. kwun

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    Farewell, Hashim brothers

    Roslin slumps to defeat by China's Bao after beating Hafiz earlier

    By Peh Shing Huei

    IN THE Kelantan capital of Kota Baru, two brothers grew up with a dream: achieving what four Selangor brothers could not.

    Unfortunately for the Kelantan pair, realising the ambition will have to be delayed.

    Mohammad Roslin Hashim and Hafiz Hashim, the brothers from Kota Baru, bid a painful goodbye to the World Badminton Championships yesterday, after older brother Roslin was thrashed 7-15, 10-15, by China's Bao Chunlai in the quarter-finals.

    Originally, Roslin did not qualify for this event. He got in to the draw when several players withdrew following a 10-week delay caused by the Sars epidemic.

    Roslin's belated entry led to the first-ever meeting between two brothers in a world championships.

    Roslin prevailed over Hafiz, and then survived a 104-minute encounter with Korea's Lee Hyun Il.

    But Roslin will now join his brother as a spectator, following yesterday's tame surrender to the effective Bao.

    The 1.9-metre-tall Chinese launched incessant airborne attacks on Roslin, and raced to an 11-1 lead. Roslin clawed back to 7-11, but the 20-year-old Bao wrapped up the first game in 15 minutes.

    The Malaysian gave a more determined performance in the second game and led 9-4. But Bao's piercing smashes were too much for the defensive Roslin.

    Bao caught up at 10-10 and then proceeded to rattle off the remaining five points.

    The world title was the one thing the Hashim brothers craved for. It was one of the three that eluded their childhood heroes: the Sidek brothers of Selangor.

    The Sideks - Misbun, Razif, Jalani and Rashid - dominated Malaysian badminton in the 1980s and 1990s, amassing the world's major titles except the Olympic, All-England singles and the world championship.

    For years, Roslin, older by seven years, seemed the likelier sibling to grab one of those three major crowns first.

    With back-to-back Grand Prix victories at the 2001 Swiss and Japan Opens, he became world No 1 and top seed at the last World Championships.

    But he was stunned in the second round by Hong Kong's Tam Kai Chuen and the top spot was wrested from him in a week.

    Then, just as Serena upstaged elder sister Venus to be the first Williams to clinch one of tennis' Grand Slam titles, the 20-year-old Hafiz sensationally usurped Roslin.

    Hafiz claimed the All-England crown as an unseeded player, and charmed the English fans with his lethal attacking game.

    Compared to Roslin's preference for monotonous long-drawn rallies, Hafiz's impatient killer instinct was a massive attraction.

    Throw in the younger Hafiz's 1.87-metre frame, neat, boyish looks and penchant for fast cars, and the 1.74m Roslin seems scruffy and thoroughly boring by comparison.

    But, if there is any jealousy, Roslin is not admitting.

    He told Timesport: 'When Hafiz won the All-England, I was happy because a Malaysian won. I was even happier because he's my brother.'

    In fact, he often seemed like the protective elder brother. After beating Hafiz 15-11, 15-8, Roslin gave him a hug and a pat.

    He also praised Hafiz as a better footballer 'who scores more goals'.

    He even vowed to win the title for Hafiz ('because I know he could have won it').

    The Hashims, whose father Hisham Ikhsan is a religious teacher, know they have the best help in their bid to win the two remaining tournaments on their dream list.

    After all, their national coaches are two of the four Sidek siblings from Selangor: Misbun and Rashid.
     

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