Chong Wei on quest for badminton redemption
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian badminton superstar Datuk Lee Chong Wei takes a final shot at Olympic gold in Rio, desperate to erase past disappointments and a doping episode that blotted one of the great sporting names.
Mal aysia has never won Olympic gold in any sport, and the mild-mannered Chong Wei has struggled with the pressure of his nation’s hopes, suffering crushing final defeats to China’s Lin Dan in Beijing and London.
But Rio finds the 33-year- old back in a familiar position -- world number one, looking strong, and an Olympic favourite -- and he has made clear his obsession to bring home gold this time.
“This is not only my dream but also the dream of all Malaysians,” Chong Wei, 33, said this month.
“I have to make the best preparation since this is my last Olympic Games.”
Chong Wei’s trophy case is packed with virtual ly every piece of badminton silverware available, but no Olympic or world championship, failures that haunt him.
In particular, those heartbreaking losses to long- time
This is not only my dream but also the dream of all Malaysians. I have to make the best preparation since this is my last Olympic Games.
nemesis -- and close friend -- Lin of China in the thrilling 2008 and 2012 Olympic singles finals clearly wounded Chong Wei, and after London many began writing his career epitaph. Things would get worse. Chong Wei, then world number one, tested positive for a forbidden anti-inflammatory drug at the 2014 world championships.
Facing a two- year ban, he fretted bleakly that his Olympic dream was dead. But badminton authorities eventually accepted his explanation that he took the drug inadvertently amid stem-cell treatment for a thigh injury.
The episode sidelined him for eight months, however, and he slid down the world rankings.
But Chong Wei launched a gritty comeback after returning to the court a year ago, recapturing his dominant form -- and last month the world’s top rank.
Rio now raises the tantalising prospect of another titanic clash with Lin, regarded by some as badminton’s greatest- ever player.
The rivalry is accentuated by their opposite personas: Chong Wei, methodical and unassuming; Lin, fiery and charismatic.
Their epic Olympic final battles have been credited with fuelling wider interest in the sport.
Also in the Rio mix is formidable Chinese world number two Chen Long -- whom Chong Wei recently overtook on the world rankings.
Ri za l Hashim, a s por t s commentator with leading Malaysian television network Astro, said Rio will either confirm Chong Wei’s legacy as an Olympic also- ran -- or as a badminton giant.
“If he wins in Rio, he will be regarded as a legend and one of the all-time greats,” he said.
Chong Wei is famed for intense training and has made clear his feverish desire for a gold medal during weeks of gruelling workouts near Kuala Lumpur.
Already possessing a dazzling array of weapons ranging from l ightning- quick defence to powerful, deep smashes, Chong Wei spends hours daily on those skills and on honing his deft footwork, repeatedly leaving sparring partners flat-footed.
Chong Wei has acknowledged that Lin once again poses his greatest obstacle and has focussed particularly on his stamina and mental toughness ahead of Rio, said his coach, Indonesian former world champ Hendrawan.
“Chong Wei is not young. So he has to use his energy efficiently. He is also being prepared to handle pressure and to stay focused,” Hendrawan told AFP.
Chong Wei is a national hero in Malaysia, which has an otherwise weak sporting history.
In a sign of his status, his 2012 marriage to former national singles player Wong Mew Choo was attended by the country’s king, queen and prime minister.
In Rio, Chong Wei will lead the Malaysian delegation into the opening ceremony, bearing the nation’s flag and, once again, an expectant country’s hopes. — AFP
Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Malaysian badminton superstar