Badminton: Roslin falls in final hurdle

PETALING JAYA: It was one of his best weeks in five years but shuttler Mohd Roslin Hashim fell short in his bid to become the first Malaysian to win a title in the Korean Open. 

Roslin was beaten 18-21, 16-21 in just 38 minutes by China's Bao Chunlai in the men's singles final of the six-star tournament yesterday. It was his fourth defeat by the world number six. 

The Nusa Mahsuri shuttler, who last won a major international title at the Japan Open in 2001, thus became the third Malaysian entry to settle for second place in the Korean Open. 

Rashid Sidek was the men's singles runner-up in 2000 and Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock played second fiddle in the men's doubles in 1996 and 1997. 

Despite the defeat, Roslin can walk tall. He bagged US$12,000 (RM44,160) and it was the biggest prize money won by a Malaysian player on the international Grand Prix circuit. 

GOT IT: Bao Chunlai of China returns the shuttlecock to Roslin Hashim during the final of the Korean Open. Chunlai won 21-18, 21-16. --APpic

His performance saved the blushes for Malaysia, who saw their top two players – Lee Chong Wei and Mohd Hafiz Hashim – crashing out in the early rounds. 

Roslin, who is ranked 45th in the world eliminated top seed and world number two Chong Wei in the second round while Hafiz was shown the door by unheralded Thai player S. Poompat at the same stage. 

“I had a comfortable lead (11-4) but I allowed him back in the game. It gave him a lot of confidence. I tried to keep up with his pace but he was always one step better,” said the 31-year-old Roslin in a telephone interview from Seoul. 

“But this is my best performances in five years. And I am really happy. It shows that I am still able to give the best players in a world a run for their money. My career is not over yet.” 

On Sept 1, Roslin will leave for Denmark on a six-month training and coaching stint with Vendsyssyl Badminton Club (VEB), a leading club in the Danish League. 

“This will be a new experience for me. I hope the training and coaching there will make me a better player. My next Open assignments are in Japan and China (in October),” he said. 

On whether he harbours hopes to be in the team for the Doha Asiad in December, Roslin said: “If the country needs me, I will certainly be back.” 

Meanwhile, 2000 Olympic champions Tony Gunawan-Candra Wijaya showed that they are still a pair to be reckoned with when they bagged their first title together in six years – beating South Korean Lee Jae-jin-Hwang Ji-man 21-18, 21-18 in the men's doubles final yesterday. 

 

RESULTS 

Men's singles: Bao Chunlai (Chn) bt Mohd Roslin Hashim 21-18, 21-16. 

Men's doubles: Tony Gunawan-Candra Wijaya (Usa-Ina) bt Lee Jae-jin-Hwang Ji-man (Kor) 21-18, 21-18. 

Women's singles: Lu Lan (Chn) bt Zhu Lin (Chn) 21-18, 21-11. 

Women's doubles: Yang Wei-Zhang Jiewen (Chn) bt Jo Novita-Polii Greysia (Ina) 21-10, 21-11. 

Mixed doubles: Nova Widianto-Lilyana Natsir (Ina) bt Jens Eriksen-Mette Scholdager (Den) 23-21, 21-18.