MOHD Hafiz Hashim will have to take a three-week break to nurse his injured left foot and this may hamper his preparation for the Malaysianin Penang next month.

The 19-year-old Hafiz was the hero in Malaysia’s 3-1 win over China in the Thomas Cup semi-finals last Thursday. But he suffered the injury in his five-game win over Bao Chunlai. The injury forced him out of the final against Indonesia on Sunday.

The team’s doctor, Ramlan Aziz, said yesterday: “He needs at least three weeks’ rest for his injury to completely heal.”

The Malaysianis on June 25-30 and Hafiz said: “I want to play in the Malaysian My form in Guangzhou has boosted my confidence to play in any tournament.”

Hafiz was fielded in three ties in the Thomas Cup Finals. He beat German Jens Roch but lost to Indonesia’s H. Hendrawan in the Group B ties.

Hafiz’s fine showing in the Finals has increased his chances for inclusion in the team for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Only three singles and four doubles players will named for the Games. Hafiz is tipped to join the squad along with Wong Choong Hann and Lee Tsuen Seng.

Coach Indra Gunawan said the team would be decided before the deadline to submit the players’ list on May 25.

“The form in Guangzhou will be taken into account when we pick the players for the Commonwealth Games. We will review their performance after we return to Malaysia.”

In the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, Malaysia won three gold medals in badminton – through Choong Hann in the men’s singles and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in the men’s doubles and the men’s team event.

But there will be no separate men’s and women’s team competition in Manchester. The organisers have reverted to a mixed team competition and Malaysia’s chances of winning the gold medal are slim.