NO EASY WEI TO TOKYO OLYMPICS
National shuttler looking to qualify first
LEE Chong Wei feels that it is still too early to talk about a medals target with regards to his capability of winning gold at next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.
“It is still too early to talk about a medal target,” said Chong Wei. Chong Wei stressed that at present, his main focus and attention is on qualifying to compete in next year’s Olympic Games first and for all.
“It will not be easy for me to qualify for the Olympic Games this time round. But I am ready to compete and I want to qualify to play for the fifth time.
“For sure all the athletes want to take part in the Olympics because it only takes place once every four years,” he said when met at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) on Thursday.
Chong Wei however pointed out that the path ahead to qualify for the Olympics will be anything but easy as he will need to compete with fellow national shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Liew Daren.
Chong Wei, a triple Olympic silver medallist, was speaking with regards to comments made by BA of Malaysia (BAM) honorary secretary, Datuk Ng Chin Chai who said that perhaps Chong Wei is no longer the main draw to win the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo next year.
According to Chin Chai, at present BAM do not want to burden or put unnecessary pressure on Chong Wei as he just only recovered from early stage nose cancer last year.
Chong Wei is expected to make his competitive return at the Malaysia Open in April.
Only two men’s singles players can qualify to compete at the Olympics provided they are ranked in the World’s top-16 after the qualifying campaign ends, and qualifying will begin this May.
It will not be easy for me to qualify for the Olympic Games this time round.
But I am ready to compete and I want to qualify to play for the fifth time.”