COPENHAGEN: The going is getting tough but national No. 2 Chong Wei Feng will not throw in the towel until there is a successor to him in the national badminton team.
That was the commitment made by Wei Feng after crashing out in the first round of the men’s singles event at the World Championships.
Wei Feng went down fighting 21-17, 22-24, 16-21 to Rajiv Ouseph of England in one hour and five minutes at the Ballerup Super Arena on Tuesday.
“I’ll give up my spot in the national team if someone is ready to take over ... Until that happens, I intend to fight on,” said reigning national champion Wei Feng.
It could have been different story on Tuesday if he had persevered in the second game. Instead, he caved in after taking a 17-14 lead – no thanks to the constant badgering from the stubborn English player.
This is Wei Feng’s third big disappointment as he seeks individual glory in a major tournament over the last one year.
He failed to live up to his top billing in the Myanmar SEA Games last December and crashed out in the quarter-finals of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The 27-year-old Wei Feng, however, has done exceptionally well in team events this year.
He was a member of the team who reached the final of Thomas Cup Finals in New Delhi in May and led the mixed team to a gold medal at the Glasgow Games.
World No. 19 Wei Feng is aware of his “split personality” in the team and individual events and plans to find a solution to his woes.
“I tend to rise to the occasion in the team events but not in individual tournaments,” said Wei Feng, who had also lost in the opening rounds of the Opens in Malaysia, South Korea and India this year.
“I know what I lack and I aim to work on it. I need to be more confident during the crucial stages.
“I can never be another Lee Chong Wei but I can be a better Wei Feng. I hope to bounce back with an improved showing in the Asian Games (in Incheon) .”
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