No more heartbreaks, please.
That will be the wish and hope of the nation when Lee Chong Wei begins his mission to make a breakthrough in the World Championships.
Chong Wei, was reduced to tears after coming close in the 2011 edition in Wembley when he lost by a whisker to his nemesis Lin Dan of China.
And Malaysia’s wait for a first world title since the tournament’s inception in 1977, continues.
And then there was the other heart-wrenching defeat again at the hands of Lin Dan in the final of the London Olympics last year which prevented Chong Wei from winning the country’s first gold.
Many would have collapsed and their spirits crushed after painful back-to-back losses but not Chong Wei.
Chong Wei will open his campaign against Ireland's Scott Evans in the first round. - IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star
Now, the wiser and calmer shuttler is hoping that his seventh attempt at the world title will be a timely gift as Malaysians get ready to celebrate Merdeka Day at the end of this month.
And Chong Wei also has a new motivation – his son, Kingston Lee.
During a press conference yesterday, Chong Wei remained composed when his arch-rival Lin Dan declared he was determined to win his fifth world title.
“It has been a year since I met Lin Dan and hopefully, I will be meeting him again in the final,” said Chong Wei.
“Like him, I will be giving my best. If it happens (meeting in the final again), I hope it will be better than the Olympic Games.
“Both of us may be the oldest in the singles field. I have lost to him here in the final of the Asian Games in 2012. If we meet, we will give our fans the best badminton show.”
Today, top seed Chong Wei will open his campaign against Ireland’s Scott Evans. A win will see him taking on Indonesia’s rising star Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka in the second round tomorrow.
Now, the wiser and calmer shuttler is hoping that his seventh attempt at the world title will be a timely gift as Malaysians get ready to celebrate Merdeka Day at the end of this month.
And Chong Wei also has a new motivation – his son, Kingston Lee.
During a press conference yesterday, Chong Wei remained composed when his arch-rival Lin Dan declared he was determined to win his fifth world title.
“It has been a year since I met Lin Dan and hopefully, I will be meeting him again in the final,” said Chong Wei.
“Like him, I will be giving my best. If it happens (meeting in the final again), I hope it will be better than the Olympic Games.
“Both of us may be the oldest in the singles field. I have lost to him here in the final of the Asian Games in 2012. If we meet, we will give our fans the best badminton show.”
Today, top seed Chong Wei will open his campaign against Ireland’s Scott Evans. A win will see him taking on Indonesia’s rising star Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka in the second round tomorrow.
China's world No.3 Du Pengyu (right) could spoil Chong Wei's party in the semi-finals.
The others in his half are China’s Wang Zhengming, Du Pengyu, Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto and Hong Kong’s Hu Yun.
There were two withdrawals yesterday with Japanese Kenichi Tago and Brice Leverdez of France pulling out.
In the absence of Kenichi, Lin Dan’s path becomes even easier and those left in his lower half are second seeds Chen Long, Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen, Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro and two Malaysians Chong Wei Feng and Liew Daren.
The others in his half are China’s Wang Zhengming, Du Pengyu, Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto and Hong Kong’s Hu Yun.
There were two withdrawals yesterday with Japanese Kenichi Tago and Brice Leverdez of France pulling out.
In the absence of Kenichi, Lin Dan’s path becomes even easier and those left in his lower half are second seeds Chen Long, Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen, Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro and two Malaysians Chong Wei Feng and Liew Daren.
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