PETALING JAYA: Selangor shuttler Mohd Haziq Najib is hoping to earn another chance with the national team after winning the men’s singles gold at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) on Monday (Aug 24).
Haziq pulled off a surprise by beating national player Ayu Fu Sheng, representing Negri Sembilan, 21-12, 15-21, 21-15 in the final to end his first and final Sukma appearance on a memorable note at Setia City Convention Centre in Shah Alam.
The victory has boosted the 21-year-old Haziq’s confidence as he looks to fight his way back into the national squad.
His performances throughout the competition also caught the attention of several coaches, with Haziq revealing that he has been invited to attend a trial with the national team next month.
"I received good feedback from several coaches about my performances at Sukma, including national coaches who watched my matches," said Haziq.
"They asked me to attend a trial at BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) next month. I had a two-week trial last year, but I did not hear anything after that, so I assumed I did not make it.
"Now that I have been given another opportunity, I don’t want to waste it."
Haziq had a tough route to the final but managed to overcome several players with national team experience along the way.
He started by beating Pahang’s Lim Boon Le in the first round before overcoming Penang’s Tan Kean Wei in the second.
Haziq then defeated former national junior Goh Shu Xuan of Negri Sembilan in the quarter-finals before knocking out Kedah’s Chong Lee Qian in the semis.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles, Siti Zulaikha Azmi was delighted to finally win the gold after returning empty-handed from the previous two Sukma editions.
The 20-year-old Zulaikha lived up to expectations by beating Federal Territories’ Lee Kay Xin 21-12, 21-15 in the final.
"I’m very satisfied because I managed to prove that I could do it. I was the top seed and also the oldest player here, so there was a lot of pressure on me. I just tried to manage that pressure and stay calm," said Zulaikha.
RESULTS
Finals
Men's singles: Mohd Haziq Najib (Sel) bt Ayu Fu Sheng (Nse) 21-12, 15-21, 21-15.
Men's doubles: Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Low Han Chen (FT) bt Damien Ling-Ethan Oh (FT) 21-16, 21-12.
Women's singles: Siti Zulaikha Azmi (Mel) bt Lee Kay Xin (FT) 21-12, 21-15.
Women's doubles: Chong Jie Yu-Vanee Gobi (Prk) bt Leong Hwee Ling-Teh Xin Ying (FT) 15-21, 22-20, 21-18.
Mixed doubles: Aaron Tai-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan (Mel) bt Kang Khai Xing-Chan Wen Tse (Kel) 21-18, 21-23, 21-8.
Bronze medal playoffs
Men's singles: Kee Is Qian (Kdh) bt Chong Lee Qian (Kdh) 21-13, 21-17.
Men's doubles: Toh E Hern-Wee Yee Tern (Jhr) bt Darrent Lim-Isyraf Hafizin Ibrahim (Swk) 21-17, 17-21, 21-18.
Women's singles: Lee Mun (Prk) bt Eng Ler Qi (Sel) 21-17, 21-17.
Women's doubles: Low Zi Yu-Dania Sofea Zaidi (Jhr) bt Sheyeon Wong-Tan Xin Yu (Sel) 21-14, 21-14.
Mixed doubles: Tan Zhi Yang-Nicole Tan (Pen) bt Nixon Ang-Tan Zhing Hui (Pen) 21-11, 21-10.
