Meet Muhammad Hafiz: PV Sindhu's new coach

Soham Mukherjee

Meet Muhammad Hafiz: PV Sindhu's new coach  image

PV Sindhu has signed former Malaysian shuttler Muhammad Hafiz Hashim as her new coach.

After parting ways with her former coach, Republic of Korea’s Park Tae-Sang, in February 2023, the ace Indian shuttler was looking for a fresh tactician. 

However, Sindhu had been training with Hashim intermittently at Hyderabad’s Suchitra Badminton Academy (SBA) since February but chose to announce him as the coach after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) approved her proposal to appoint the Malaysian as her personal trainer until the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. 

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What did PV Sindhu say about her new coach?

“After a long drawn-out process, I am ecstatic to declare that I have chosen the incredible Hafiz Hashim as my coach,” PV Sindhu said on Twitter.

“Hafiz possesses all the traits I was seeking in a coach, including the height, speed, and an attacking instinct. As a former All England champion in 2003, he sure has the pedigree as well. Having coach (Misbun) Sidek as his old coach, just adds this aura to him.”

 

 

Sindhu is yet to win a BWF tournament this year and has dropped in the women's ranking to 17, her worst ranking in over a decade. After the defeat in the USA Open, Sindhu penned an emotional note as she wrote that the loss had a deep emotional impact on her.

Who is Muhammad Hafiz Hashim?

Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, born on September 13, 1982, in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, is a well-known figure in the world of badminton.

One of Hafiz Hashim's most significant accomplishments came in 2003 when he emerged victorious at the All England Open Badminton Championships. 

He played a pivotal role in securing medals for his country in prestigious tournaments such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Thomas Cup, and Sudirman Cup.

Following his retirement from professional badminton, Hafiz Hashim transitioned into coaching. He joined the Academy Badminton Malaysia coaching lineup in December, and in February 2023, he moved to Hyderabad's Suchitra Badminton Academy on a three-year contract.

Hashim has also bagged several BWF events like the Swiss Open (2005), Thailand Open (2005), Dutch Open (2005), and the Philippines Open (2006). 

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List: Achievements of PV Sindhu's new coach Muhammad Hafiz Hashim

Tournament Year & Medal Category
Thomas Cup 2002: Silver
2006: Bronze
2008: Bronze
2010: Bronze 
Team Events
Sudirman Cup 2009: Bronze Team Event
Asian Games 2002: Bronze
2006: Bronze
Team Event
Commonwealth Games 2002: Gold
2010: Gold
Men's Singles
Mixed team
Southeast Asian Games 2005: Gold
2005: Bronze
2009: Silver
Men's Team
Men's Singles
Men's team

BWF Tournaments

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2003 All England Open Chen Hong 17–14, 15–10 Winner
2003 Dutch Open Lee Hyun-il 15–5, 8–15, 6–15 Runner-up
2005 German Open Lin Dan 8–15, 8–15 Runner-up
2005 Swiss Open Peter Gade 17–14, 15–10 Winner
2005 Thailand Open Kenneth Jonassen 15–13, 15–13 Winner
2005 Dutch Open Shoji Sato 15–4, 15–12 Winner
2005 Denmark Open Lee Chong Wei 14–17, 8–15 Runner-up
2006 Philippines Open Roslin Hashim 21–19, 21–7 Winner
2009 India Open Taufik Hidayat 18–21, 19–21 Runner-up

 MORE: Korea Open badminton 2023: Which Indians are playing and how to watch?

Soham Mukherjee

Soham Mukherjee  Photo

Soham Mukherjee is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.