Chong Wei spurred by warm memories from junior days
Latest News, News, Top News 5:06 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Watching juniors in action yesterday brought
back fond memories and sparked off new inspirations for world No. 1 Lee
Chong Wei ahead of the world championships, which will be held in Paris
from Aug 23-29.
Chong Wei took time off to watch the final between his home state, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur in the national junior inter-state mixed team championships at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara.
Penang lost the tie 3-6 but the fighting display by the youngsters throughout the competition reminded him of his junior days a decade ago and his childhood dream to become a world champion for Malaysia one day.
“I sat there watching these youngsters (from the VIP stand) and it brought back a gush of warm memories of my junior days. Like them, I never knew the meaning of tiredness,” said Chong Wei, who attended the event as the 100Plus brand ambassador.
“Then, I was driven by one thing – an ambition to be the world champion. This dream has not become a reality yet but it had not dimmed either.
Champions: Lee
Chong Wei (in white) posing with the victorious Kuala Lumpur players and
officials at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
“I
did not live up to the expectations at the world championships in India
(2009) and Kuala Lumpur (2010). I do not want to be unlucky again. I
think this is my best time to pull it off. I am in best condition and I
think, my desire to get it right is greater than ever.”
The 28-year-old, who succeeded in winning the All-England for the first time this year, hoped that the country’s juniors would never give up.
“I hope some of the juniors here will be able to take over my place. There is no easy way to make it to the top,” he said.
“They have inspired me today in a special way. And this will be an extra motivation for me as I head for the world championships.”
Today, Chong Wei will get to know his hurdles in the world championships today when the Badminton World Federation (BWF) announce the draw.
The three seeded players behing him are Peter Gade-Christensen of Denmark and China’s Lin Dan and Chen Jin respectively. Chong Wei and Gade-Christensen will be separated and the two Chinese players will be drawn into the two halves.
And most players would not want to be in a half which has Lin Dan, who is gunning for a fourth world title.
“At the world stage, playing against anyone is a challenge. I need to be ready to face anyone at any stage,” said Chong Wei.
“The next two weeks will be crucial for me and I want to be focused in my preparation for the championships.”
Chong Wei, who has won six titles thus year so far, will be leaving the country on Wednesday for centralised training at the Bath University in England from Aug 12-20 together with team-mates Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Wong Mew Choo, Lydia Cheah and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.
The other Malaysians for the world championships are independent players and they will leave later. They are Wong Choong Hann, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen will leave later.
Chong Wei took time off to watch the final between his home state, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur in the national junior inter-state mixed team championships at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara.
Penang lost the tie 3-6 but the fighting display by the youngsters throughout the competition reminded him of his junior days a decade ago and his childhood dream to become a world champion for Malaysia one day.
“I sat there watching these youngsters (from the VIP stand) and it brought back a gush of warm memories of my junior days. Like them, I never knew the meaning of tiredness,” said Chong Wei, who attended the event as the 100Plus brand ambassador.
“Then, I was driven by one thing – an ambition to be the world champion. This dream has not become a reality yet but it had not dimmed either.
Champions: Lee
Chong Wei (in white) posing with the victorious Kuala Lumpur players and
officials at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara yesterday. The 28-year-old, who succeeded in winning the All-England for the first time this year, hoped that the country’s juniors would never give up.
“I hope some of the juniors here will be able to take over my place. There is no easy way to make it to the top,” he said.
“They have inspired me today in a special way. And this will be an extra motivation for me as I head for the world championships.”
Today, Chong Wei will get to know his hurdles in the world championships today when the Badminton World Federation (BWF) announce the draw.
The three seeded players behing him are Peter Gade-Christensen of Denmark and China’s Lin Dan and Chen Jin respectively. Chong Wei and Gade-Christensen will be separated and the two Chinese players will be drawn into the two halves.
And most players would not want to be in a half which has Lin Dan, who is gunning for a fourth world title.
“At the world stage, playing against anyone is a challenge. I need to be ready to face anyone at any stage,” said Chong Wei.
“The next two weeks will be crucial for me and I want to be focused in my preparation for the championships.”
Chong Wei, who has won six titles thus year so far, will be leaving the country on Wednesday for centralised training at the Bath University in England from Aug 12-20 together with team-mates Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Wong Mew Choo, Lydia Cheah and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.
The other Malaysians for the world championships are independent players and they will leave later. They are Wong Choong Hann, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen will leave later.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 5:06 PM.
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