Kuala Lumpur: The 2003 All England champion Hafiz Hashim who has disappeared from the Malaysian badminton landscape for a long time, is now playing for Cheras BC in the first season of Kopiko Purple League (KPL). Hafiz got off to a good start on Wednesday against current Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) shuttler Goh Soon Huat winning the first men’s singles tie 11-10, 11-8, 11-10.
Hafiz played an aggressive game plan right from the beginning, he attacked Soon Huat unrelentingly and making Soon Huat very uncomfortable throughout the contest.
“I think the 11-point system suit the style of my game. It was a good victory for me since I don’t play men’s singles that often anymore,” said Hafiz.
World No. 20 Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam was also one of the major attractions at the opening day of Kopiko Purple League. He played for Petaling Jaya BC and faced nearly no resistance from 18-year-old Tan Vi Hen of Petaling BC by winning 11-8, 11-9, 11-3.
Due to schedule conflict, the 2013 World Championship bronze medalist will fly to Jakarta to reunite with the Vietnamese team at the Axiata Cup this weekend.
“I’ll be playing in the Vietnam vs Philippines tie on Dec 1 at the Axiata Cup, then, I will come back to Malaysia to resume my duties in the Purple League.”
KPL Results:
Petaling Jaya BC defeated Petaling BC 12-9
Kepong BC defeated Cheras BC 14-9
