Chong Wei goes blue ahead of World Championships

The Malaysian team at KLIA before leaving for Jakarta for the World Championships which starts Monday.- SAMUEL ONG / The Star

SEPANG: This year’s World Championships will be quite different for shuttler Lee Chong Wei.

He is sporting a different hairstyle and is taking a different approach to the tournament.

One other thing he hopes will be different is the winner – with him on the winner’s rostrum.

The former world No. 1 is hoping to finally get it right in his ninth world meet, which will get under way at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Monday.

Chong Wei and 21 other Malaysian shuttlers left for Jakarta yesterday. They were accompanied by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost, coaches Hendrawan, Jeremy Gan, Wong Pei Tty and Chin Eei Hui and team manager Ng Chin Chai.

But it was Chong Wei who stood out – with his light blue-coloured hair!

“I dyed my hair ... my hair had turned grey over the last few days,” he said in jest.

On a serious note, the 33-year-old Chong Wei admitted that “this world meet will be different for me”.

“This is the first time I’m not seeded for the world championships. I’m the underdog this time ... there’ll be less pressure on me,” said Chong Wei.

“Previously, I prepared for the world meet without a chief coach. This time, I have Morten, Hendrawan and Tey Seu Bock behind me. We have had better preparation and analysis. There have been more discussions about my game and my opponents’. I have improved – physically and mentally.”

Another difference, according to him, is that the men’s singles competition will not be all about him and five-time world champion Lin Dan of China.

Chong Wei feels that Japan’s Kento Momota, India’s K. Srikanth, Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto and Taiwan’s Chen Chou-tien are capable of ruffling some feathers.

“I think, it will be one of the most interesting tournaments in recent times ... it will be quite open,” said Chong Wei.