No time to waste
Khairy: Speed up search for Chong Wei’s replacement
KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has told the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to take immediate steps to find a replacement for Lee Chong Wei.
The world No. 1 shuttler may retire sooner than expected, depending on his performance in the World Championships in Glasgow in August.
After settling for his third Olympic Games silver in Rio de Janeiro last August, Chong Wei has decided to take another shot at bagging the elusive world title in Glasgow.
He has taken three silver medals from the last three world meets – in 2011 (London), 2013 (Guangzhou) and 2015 (Jakarta). He also has a bronze from his world meet debut in Anaheim, the United States, in 2005.
And Khairy has admitted that it would be unfair for anyone to persuade the shuttler to continue playing “if he decides to retire after the World Championships”.
“We cannot tell Chong Wei to play on until we find a suitable replacement.
“Whether or not Chong Wei retires after the World Championships, we must start developing our singles. We need to push others harder and demand results.
“We will respect Chong Wei’s decision if he wants to quit after the world meet.
“If he wants to retire, then it is okay, but if he decides to try for another Olympic Games in 2020, we will give him all the support,” said Khairy after launching the antidoping awareness programme in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Khairy also said that the same applied to Malaysia’s top squash player Nicol David.
“She wants to play on for another four or five years and I have told her we will give her the support until she decides to retire.
“Chong Wei and Nicol are highperformance athletes and we will continue supporting them,” he said.
Khairy also pointed out that random doping tests would be conducted frequently when the KL SEA Games draw nearer.
Malaysia will host the Games from Aug 1931.
“I cannot disclose anything further on the random tests but, as for now, all results have been negative.
“We will also conduct regular antidoping awareness programmes to help those shortlisted for the SEA Games to understand better about its implications,” he said.