Chong Wei stays focused on world title despite tough draw
Latest News 2:52 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei appeared neither glum
nor stressed a day after being handed a tough draw for the world
championships, which will be held in Paris from Aug 23-29.
In fact, Chong Wei, who will be making his fifth appearance in the championships, was all cool about it.
“This is the toughest draw for me. What can I say? It looks like I’m being fixed here!” he said, letting out a hearty laugh, after a training session at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara here yesterday.
The 28-year-old top seed has very strong opponents in his half of the draw – China’s Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai, Indonesian Taufik Hidayat, Dane Jan O Jorgensen, Japanese Kenich Tago and South Korean Park Sung-hwan.
Compatriot Mohd Hafiz Hashim was also drawn into his quarter and they may meet in the second round.
Of the lot, Chong Wei’s greatest stumbling block is his nemesis and three-time champion Lin Dan.
In the other half of the draw with second seed Peter Gade-Christensen of Denmark are Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana, Malaysia’s Wong Choong Hann, China’s Chen Jin and Indonesians Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso.
Chong Wei said that he would take it as a great challenge to overcome the hurdles.
“The tough draw has not changed my determination to win a first world title for Malaysia,” said Chong Wei, who has not made it past the semi-final stage in the series.
“I am not going to make the mistakes of the past. I used to be get so worked up in wanting to win that I put too much pressure on myself. Now, it is all about taking one match at a time and enjoying it while I am at it.
“I take this as a personal challenge to get through this tough path that has been laid out for me. My best achievement was in my first outing in Madrid (in 2005) when I reached the semi-finals. After that, it was downhill for me.”
Chong Wei crashed out in the quarter-finals in 2006 (Anaheim) and in 2009 (Hyderabad) and lost in the third round in 2007 (Kuala Lumpur).
Chong Wei is tipped to play against Lin Dan in the semi-finals but there is no way for either of them to take anything for granted.
“It is unwise for either Lin Dan or me to underestimate our early opponents. It is a tough draw for both of us,’’ he said.
“I have done a lot of analysis of my game after losing to Lin Dan (at the Thomas Cup Finals in May). I have won several titles after that (Indonesian Open, Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold and Macau Open), which is a good motivation for me.
“My condition is better now and I certainly hope to take my chances well.”
On his coach Misbun Sidek’s decision to train him at home instead of at the Bath University in England, Chong Wei said: “My responsibility as a player is to follow my coach’s decision.
“I will stay here if he wants me to. I believe his input will be invaluable, especially as the world championships is just around the corner.”
Chong Wei and Misbun have been exempted from a short centralised training stint in Bath for the shuttlers ahead of the world championships.
In fact, Chong Wei, who will be making his fifth appearance in the championships, was all cool about it.
“This is the toughest draw for me. What can I say? It looks like I’m being fixed here!” he said, letting out a hearty laugh, after a training session at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara here yesterday.
The 28-year-old top seed has very strong opponents in his half of the draw – China’s Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai, Indonesian Taufik Hidayat, Dane Jan O Jorgensen, Japanese Kenich Tago and South Korean Park Sung-hwan.
Compatriot Mohd Hafiz Hashim was also drawn into his quarter and they may meet in the second round.
Of the lot, Chong Wei’s greatest stumbling block is his nemesis and three-time champion Lin Dan.
In the other half of the draw with second seed Peter Gade-Christensen of Denmark are Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana, Malaysia’s Wong Choong Hann, China’s Chen Jin and Indonesians Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso.
Chong Wei said that he would take it as a great challenge to overcome the hurdles.
“The tough draw has not changed my determination to win a first world title for Malaysia,” said Chong Wei, who has not made it past the semi-final stage in the series.
“I am not going to make the mistakes of the past. I used to be get so worked up in wanting to win that I put too much pressure on myself. Now, it is all about taking one match at a time and enjoying it while I am at it.
“I take this as a personal challenge to get through this tough path that has been laid out for me. My best achievement was in my first outing in Madrid (in 2005) when I reached the semi-finals. After that, it was downhill for me.”
Chong Wei crashed out in the quarter-finals in 2006 (Anaheim) and in 2009 (Hyderabad) and lost in the third round in 2007 (Kuala Lumpur).
Chong Wei is tipped to play against Lin Dan in the semi-finals but there is no way for either of them to take anything for granted.
“It is unwise for either Lin Dan or me to underestimate our early opponents. It is a tough draw for both of us,’’ he said.
“I have done a lot of analysis of my game after losing to Lin Dan (at the Thomas Cup Finals in May). I have won several titles after that (Indonesian Open, Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold and Macau Open), which is a good motivation for me.
“My condition is better now and I certainly hope to take my chances well.”
On his coach Misbun Sidek’s decision to train him at home instead of at the Bath University in England, Chong Wei said: “My responsibility as a player is to follow my coach’s decision.
“I will stay here if he wants me to. I believe his input will be invaluable, especially as the world championships is just around the corner.”
Chong Wei and Misbun have been exempted from a short centralised training stint in Bath for the shuttlers ahead of the world championships.
Posted by Lucas Liau
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