PETALING JAYA: Mohd Hafiz Hashim produced a scintillating performance, including a magnificent fightback in the first game, to stun top seed and defending champion Chen Hong of China 17-14, 15-10 and end Malaysia’s agonising 37-year wait for the All-England men’s singles crown at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham yesterday.
Chen Hong looked set to claim the first game when he led 14-9. But the Malaysian saved three game points in a golden spell to snatch the advantage from the Chinese and then raced away to clinch the title in 53 minutes, thus becoming the first Malaysian to be crowned All-England champion since Tan Aik Huang back in 1966.
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