Hanz training hard before heading back
Published on: Wednesday, July 15, 2020
By: GL Oh
Hanz (left) with Saffuan during a break in their training session at Yayasan Sabah Badminton Hall.
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s up and coming shuttler Hanz Haiqal Azahawari will only rejoin Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara early next month.The 16-year-old, the only player from Sabah who managed to get into the academy following a trial last year, is currently back here with his family.
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His father and former State badminton champion Azahawari Osman, who had represented the country in various junior international tournaments in the past, said his son will only return to the national capital on August 8.
According to him, he has been helping to monitor his son’s training schedule since Hanz’s return here a day before the implementation of Movement Control Order (MCO) by the government on March 17.
“Hanz has been training hard with a daily morning programme prepared by the ABM Junior Development team which is monitored online by the coaches and instructors via Zoom.
“He also has the afternoon training session with me at Yayasan Sabah assisted by Datu Mohd Saffuan Nizam who is a top and very experienced player as his sparring partner.
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“We are trying our best to keep him in top shape before rejoining the academy next month,” he said.
Meanwhile, he is happy to see that Hanz’s game had improved since joining ABM in January.
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“Despite only three short months with the academy, I am glad to say that his game has improved noticeably. Hopefully there will be more positive improvement after his return to the academy.
“He is only 16 years old so he needs to grab the opportunity to learn as much as he can from players who are much older and better than him in the academy,” he added.
Hanz is currently attached with the Under-18 squad in ABM under coaches Hafiz Hashim, Kwan Yoke Meng and Poh Chai Boon but may get to train under Datuk Misbun Sidek as head coach with the new restructure exercise which is likely to take place soon.
Since joining the academy, he has taken part in the Victor National Under-18 Championships (1st Leg) held in Kota Bharu, Kelantan in February.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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