Last chance for Roslin to end title drought

BY RAJES PAUL

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Mohd Roslin Hashim hopes to end his two-year title drought with a successful defence of the SEA Games men's singles title. 

At the last Games here in 2001, Roslin ended Malaysia's 28-year wait for a men's singles gold, beating Thailand's Boonsak Polsana in the final. 

Since the SEA Games victory, Roslin's career has been a roller coaster ride, sparking suggestions that the Nusa Mahsuri shuttler had gone past his prime. 

The 28-year-old Roslin is not seen as a frontrunner for the gold medal in the Vietnam Games. The badminton competitions will be played in Ho Chi Minh City. 

But Roslin said that no one should write him off. 

COURTING RAYA JOY: National badminton player Mohd Roslin Hashim serving raya goodies to national coach Rashid Sidek and his wife Noor Azehan (seated) as his housemates Amran Hashim (in blue) and Raja Halim Shah look on. The gathering was held at Nusa Mahsuri Jalani Sidek's residence in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa. - STARpic Kamal Sellehuddin

“I want to win the title again to boost my morale after going through two years without a title to show,” said Roslin, whose highlight this year was reaching the semi-finals of the All-England and Danish Open and the quarter-finals of the World Championships. 

For the Vietnam Games, faster and aggressive players, among them Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia, Ronald Susilo of Singapore, Boonsak and Roslin's compatriot Wong Choong Hann, are seen as the better bets to win the title. 

“Based on current form, Sony, Choong Hann and Boonsak will be the favourites,” said Roslin. 

“But Ronald is also a strong contender They are all aggressive players and have done well in international tournaments. But I am determined to get the better of them.” 

Roslin is tipped to reach the semi-finals and he is down to play the winner of the match between top seed Sony and Boonsak. 

“I have beaten Boonsak in all three previous matches. But his recent form has been excellent.  

“I have not played against Sony but he is the current Indonesian number one and no one gets it easy against him,” said Roslin. 

“Choong Hann has a better draw to reach the semi-finals.  

“He will probably play against Ronald in the semi-finals. Choong Hann is in top form and I am sure he is very determined to win his first-ever SEA Games gold medal.” 

An indication of Roslin's determination to retain the title is his decision to skip the Hari Raya celebrations with his family in Kota Baru. 

“I was given a two-day break but after weighing the pros and cons, I have decided not to go home.  

“I felt that it was better that I continue training,” he said. 

But Roslin will join a do at the home of Nusa Mahsuri president Jalani Sidek in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa here, where he is currently staying.