June Wei confident he can live up to his billing as second singles

Different mission: Cheam June Wei was Lee Chong Wei’s personal sparring partner at the 2018 Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok.

PETALING JAYA: From sparring to one of the key players – how the role has changed for shuttler Cheam June Wei.

The 24-year-old Thomas Cup debutant believes he has the confidence and game in him to live up to the nation’s expectation as the second singles in the ongoing Finals in Aarhus, Denmark.

He says he has learnt from the best and that is from Lee Chong Wei.

June Wei was in Bangkok at the last Thomas Cup edition in 2018 as a personal sparring partner for Chong Wei. Skipper Chong Wei played as the first singles and won all his matches but Malaysia lost in the quarter-finals to Indonesia.

“I did not make the team but I followed Chong Wei to Bangkok to spar with him throughout the Finals. I observed all his preparation and I got to see how he handled the pressure. I’ve learnt from him,” said June Wei.

“Three years have passed and I’m ready to handle the pressure that comes with playing as the second singles.”

June Wei has an important role to either clinch the winning point or to keep the team’s challenge alive.

If Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik win their matches, it will be June Wei’s chance to be the country’s hero. However, if they lose, his responsibility is to spark a fightback.

“I’m ready. Everything is good here,” he declared.

In Aarhus, June Wei’s first real test will be against Japan on Thursday when he takes on world No. 13 Kanta Tsuneyama in their second Group D tie.

The only other team in their group are Canada as England had withdrawn.

He may also cross swords against Jonatan Christie of Indonesia, China’s Lu Guangzhu, Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, Taiwan’s Wang Tzu-wei and South Korea’s Kim Dong-hun depending on the fresh draw conducted in the quarter-finals.

June Wei has already proven himself during the Thomas Cup qualifiers in Manila, the Philippines in 2020.

Then, he defeated Son Wan-ho of South Korea, Kenta Nishimoto of Japan and Jonatan to help Malaysia finish runners-up and qualify for the Thomas Cup Finals.

June Wei’s form took a dip this year after he was tested positive for Covid-19. But the Penangite has announced that he is back at his best.