Former #1 badminton star Wong Choong Hann on learning from defeat

Wong in 2008, where he played against Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia during the men's singles second round badminton match of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing. Wong won the game. Photo: AFP

In the world of sports, winning and losing is part and parcel of the game. Every sportsman has to embrace this fact of life as part of a growing process, according to Wong Choong Hann, a former world No. 1 badminton player.

In his 16-year badminton career (1996-2012), the left-handed player has won five titles and 12 runner-up titles in major badminton tournaments. He also has an impressive medal haul of five golds, seven silvers and 10 bronze from world badminton championships.