Chong Wei believes reaching the final in Japan a perfect confidence booster
PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei believes his World Championships nightmare is well behind him.
Now the three-time Olympic silver medallist is out to cap a successful run at the Denmark Open in Odense from Oct 17-22.
Chong Wei, who will celebrate his 35th birthday on Oct 21, endured a horror campaign at the world meet in Glasgow in August.
The Penangite went into the competition hoping to win his first world title but suffered a shocking first-round defeat to unheralded Frenchman Brice Leverdez.
The world No. 7 however showed he is very much on the comeback trail after making the Japan Open final before falling to world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark last month.
Chong Wei believes that is just the tonic he needs to boost his confidence.
“Reaching the final in Japan was good for me ... it certainly helped my confidence especially after the world meet,” said Chong Wei after the monthly Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) assembly yesterday.
“It shows that I’m on my way back up again. Of course Denmark will be another tough tournament.
“I’ve yet to look at the draw. But my coaches told me I don’t have it easy. I’m just focused on building my own confidence and to proceed one round at a time.”
Chong Wei, who has won the Danish meet twice in 2005 and 2012, is seeded seventh and meets Spaniard Pablo Abian in the first round.
He should progress to the quarter-finals where he is expected to face top seed Son Wan-ho of South Korea with China’s Shi Yuqi or Chen Long a potential semi-final opponent.
World No. 1 Axelsen is the second seed and is drawn together with China’s Lin Dan, Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen and India’s K. Srikanth.
The other Malaysians in the fray are mixed pairs Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Chan Peng SoonCheah Yee See and women’s pairs Vivian HooWoon Khe Wei and Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean.