Chong Wei returns to court
For the time being the doctor only allows me to undergo light training at 30 per cent level of normal training which I did prior to this. I will increase on the difficulty of training gradually depending on suitability because I feel the skill is already there, only to get back strength and fitness. Datuk Lee Chong Wei
KUALA LUMPUR: National badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei wants to focus on his fitness and muscular strength before raising the intensity of training on court.
Chong Wei, who held a racket for the first time during training at the Malaysian Badminton Academy (ABM) yesterday morning since recovering from nose cancer, said the medical advice is for him to undergo only light training.
“For the time being the doctor only allows me to undergo light training at 30 per cent level of normal training which I did prior to this. I will increase on the difficulty of training gradually depending on suitability because I feel the skill is already there, only to get back strength and fitness.
“I have discussed with coach Hendrawan and Datuk Misbun Sidek to focus on gym training to build muscles and strength due to loss of muscular strength since several months ago,” he told reporters.
The 36- year- old player, who turned up at ABM at 8.15 am, underwent routine training for two hours on court before continuing training at the gymnasium for another two hours.
The three-time Olympic silver medalist also shared his reactions on resuming training.
“I felt the court was quite big, it is quite normal as I was entering it after five or six months. I feel I need a little bit more time for everything to return to normal. For starters, I will only train three or four times a week,” he said.
He started training last Friday via a recovery session at the ABM gymnasium.
His last tournament appearance was when he lost to Kento Momota of Japan, who is now world No. 1, at the semi-finals of the Indonesian Open in July, a week after beating the same player to win the Malaysian Open for the 12th time. Meanwhile, national men’s singles coach Hendrawan was encouraged by Chong Wei’s spirit.
He said Chong Wei needed a little bit more time to get back his touch before he could start thinking about the championships he would be taking part.
“I am happy and proud of him. Surely, his determination to return is something very positive. His skill will not disappear but as he has not been training for a long time it will be tough at the outset. It is normal, and things will be back to normal in one or two months,” he added.