Muhammad Hafiz Hashim to train with national team for Thomas Cup Finals – Badminton news
Malaysia’s independent and experienced shuttler Muhammad Hafiz Hashim is set to train with the national squad in a bid to improve his physical fitness for the Thomas Cup Finals, which will take place in China, from May 20-27.
Hafiz, who is currently World Number 32 at the moment, has an extensive experience of international badminton and possesses the skills to help Malaysia in getting a good result in the Finals.
The secretary of Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Ng Chin Chai, who is also the chairman of Coaching and Training Committee (CTC), said that Hafiz deserves a place in the Finals and he also insisted that the shuttler should improve his fitness.
While talking about the performance of national squad in the last week’s Thomas Cup Preliminary Round, Chin Chai said that Men’s Singles players failed to perform well while Men’s Doubles men proved their worth.
Chin Chai said, "The Thomas Cup performance was reviewed, where the doubles played well while the singles players, except for Lee Chong Wei, were not good enough and this is the reason Hafiz has been allowed to train with the national team until the Thomas
Cup Finals.”
Chin Chai also highlighted the deficiencies of Hafiz and said that he needs to put more effort in training sessions to overcome his fitness issues and if he succeeds, he is expected to perform well in the Thomas Cup Finals.
While talking about the young shuttler, Zulfadli Zulkifli, who is current Asian and World Junior Champion, Chin Chai said that BAM wants him to join the national squad.
He said, "BAM has always opened its doors for Zulfadli to join the national team but the CTC has no powers to decide whether he can come in for a short term stint until the Thomas Cup.”
However, BAM has not taken any official decision yet to include him in the national setup.
On the other hand, Hafiz is on safe grounds as he is one of the most experienced shuttlers in the national squad for Thomas Cup Finals and is expected to live up to the expectations by preparing well for the event and deliver his best on the given day.
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