ASIAN GAMES THE PRIORITY

Chong Wei ready to ‘sacrifice’ World Championships

Lee Chong Wei is ready to sacrifice an opportunity to become world champion. As the World Championships take place next month in Nanjing, China, his priority will be on the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.

National men’s singles coach, Hendrawan, commenting on the two events, pointed out that the Asian Games take place once every four years while the World Championships are held annually.

As such, the Asian Games are more important to Chong Wei as it will most likely be his last appearance at the Asiad.

“From earlier this year itself, Chong Wei’s main focus for this year has been the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. While the Commonwealth Games have ended, we have the Asian Games coming up soon.

“Chong Wei will still take part in the World Championships, it’s just that he will not be putting high hopes on coming out tops because it takes place every year and he will still have his chance next year. The Asian Games is more important as it is his main target,” said Hendrawan.

Hendrawan said that the 36year-old World No 7 will face a tough challenge preparing for the Asian Games as it takes place just 10 days after the World Championships.

The World Championships take place from July 30 to Aug 5 while the Asian Games open on Aug 18 and end on Sept 2.

“It can be said that the period between the World Championships and the Asian Games is quite short. This is why the focus will be more on the Games because that is Chong Wei’s main target.

“It will be a tall order but I firmly believe that Chong Wei can come out tops,” he said.

Before the World Championships, Chong Wei will also take part in the Malaysia Open from June 26 to July 1, as well as the Indonesian Open (July 3-8).

Even though he is 36 years old, Chong Wei’s determination to compete at the highest level is as strong as ever and it is proven through his performance in the Thomas Cup in Bangkok last week where he emerged undefeated despite Malaysia exiting in the quarter-finals.

In fact, he also got the better of World No 1 Dane Viktor Axelsen during the group stage.

“What is most important for Chong Wei is his unwavering spirit and will to succeed. If he still has it, then there’s no problem for him to keep on going,” said Hendrawan.