LIN DAN SHOWS CHONG WEI WHO’S THE SUPERSTAR
Chong Wei ready to move on after loss to China’s superstar
PETALING JAYA: Finishing second to Lin Dan again on the international stage is a bitter pill to swallow.
But world No. 5 Lee Chong Wei is taking the defeat to China’s superstar in his stride.
On Friday, Chong Wei went down 16-21, 17-21 to Lin Dan in a match that saw the sixtime All-England champion dominating play.
It was his 28th defeat to the two-time Olympic champion in 40 matches over the last decade.
“I’ve to accept this defeat and move on. I take it positively and I’ll work harder in training,” said the 35-year-old.
“What’s important is to bounce back strongly and show that I’m still keen to achieve good results.”
National singles coach Hendrawan said: “Chong Wei was slower than Lin Dan and could not keep up with his speed. I’m sure he’ll come out of this.”
Four-time All-England champion Chong Wei said he was more concerned with his preparation for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia from April 4-15.
“I will not be around to play another Commonwealth Games, so this trip to Australia is special to me,” he said.
Chong Wei is making a return to the Games after missing the action four years ago. Then, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) decided to send back-up players and the decision backfired when Malaysia failed to win a medal in the men’s singles for the first time since 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Chong Wei has won the singles title twice at the Games series – 2006 Melbourne and 2010 New Delhi.
His main challengers will be Rajiv Ouseph of England and India’s K. Srikanth and H.S. Prannoy.
Prannoy and Srikanth lost to China’s newcomer Huang Yuxiang in the All-England quarter-finals and second round respectively.