Japan underdogs kicked our ass

Thomas Cup 2010, on May 12th Japan Vs Malaysia to decide Group B winners. There I was in front of the television glued to a match I didn't expect to see, Hafidz Hashim crushing defeat against Shoji Sato (10-21, 21-14, 18-21). Both men entered the court with much cool confidence and affable characters. However, as the match took off it turns to our worst nightmare. It was a bad predicament for whole Malaysian who watched and anticipated Hafidz to win with ease. Japan's last single player Shoji Sato who is physically petite compared to Hafidz turns out to be a firecracker which left us baffled. Hafidz who were seemingly cool earlier, maybe taking things too cool actually left us in much disappointment. However, the physical appearance doesn't bugged me that much because Rashid Sidek was also pettite in built but the world rankings of both men. Hafidz who won All England in 2003 and world ranking at #22 against Shoji Sato at #214 was quite an embarrassment. He lacked in motivation and it was pretty obvious or maybe he was cocky or feeling too comfortable to go against Sato. But, it didn't justified his mistake after mistakes on court, which cost him his opponent's points and upper advantages. The while he realized it, Sato already won the first game. Hafidz tried to redeem his honor by winning the second and stretched the game into the rubber set. Nevertheless, it was a stale effort on Hafidz who at first leading the game and fail to outwit his opponent on the latter. Little Sato managed to counter attack after attacks beautifully and where does this stamina is coming from! He was mentally focused and fights on with much attacks and jumping smashes. There were moments where I cringed every time Sato relaying or returning Hafidz's smashes and moments I felt that I should give up watching altogether because It would be jinxing Hafidz. Nevertheless, the fighting spirit within Hafidz was stronger still and yet too late. Sato wins the game and left us traumatic.


Hafidz Hashim Trivia:
Born 13 September 1982
Height 1.88m (6'2")

Honors:

* 2002 Commonwealth Games Champion
* 2003 All England Open Champion
* 2003 Dutch Open Runner Up
* 2005 Thailand Open Champion
* 2005 Swiss Open Champion
* 2005 Dutch Open Champion
* 2005 German Open Runner Up
* 2005 Denmark Open Runner Up
* 2005 Sudirman Cup Champion(second division)
* 2006 Philippine Open Champion
* 2009 India Open Runner Up


Shoji Sato Trivia:
Born 17 September 1982
Height 1.68m (5'6")

Career:

He won four Japanese National Championships in a row between 2003 and 2006.
2004 Summer Olympics round 1/ match #12: loss to China
2008 Beijing Olympics round 3/ match #2: loss to Denmark

Japan Wins Group B:
Group B: Japan bt Malaysia 3-2 (Kenichi Tago lost to Lee Chong Wei 12-21, 13-21; Noriyasu Hirata-Hirokatsu Hashimoto lost to Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong 13-21, 17-21; Sho Sasaki bt Wong Choong Hann 21-17, 21-18; Kenichi Hayakawa-Kenta Kazuno bt Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif 21-15, 21-12; Shoji Sato bt Mohd Hafiz Hashim 21-10, 14-21, 21-18).