Chong Wei catches up with ‘surprise’ idol and doubles legend Tony

PETALING JAYA: It may be a surprise to many but Lee Chong Wei regards Indonesian doubles legend Tony Gunawan as one of the players who inspired him to achieve greater heights in his stellar career.

Chong Wei had started showing his prowess as a future star in the men’s singles in the late 1990s when Tony had already achieved major success with different partners.

Tony won the men’s doubles gold with Candra Wijaya in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and later partnered Halim Haryanto in 2001 to win the world crown.

He also became the first player to win the world title for two different nations when he secured his second crown with Howard Bach, representing the United States in 2005.

It was the first title won by an American pair in the World Championships.

“Tony was one of my idols when my international career took off. The way he won the Olympic gold (with Candra) and continued to achieve major success with different partners was phenomenal,” said Chong Wei.

“He was a senior player and very disciplined. I was inspired by his feats early in my career.

“He managed to find success with any player within a short span of time and even did well in the mixed doubles.”

The two legends had remained close friends off court and had the opportunity to meet up again in Singapore after almost a decade when they attended a meeting with their sponsors.

“I am from Malaysia and he is based in the US – we meet up in Singapore. It was indeed a special occasion.”

Tony’s visit coincided with the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) search for a mixed doubles coach.

However, national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky confirmed that his former doubles partner has never shown the interest to coach in Malaysia.

Tony has established a badminton academy in Orange County, California, where he lives with his wife Etty Tantry, also a former Indonesian doubles player, and their two sons.