KUALA LUMPUR: National badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei wants national shuttlers who have never had the experience of competing in the Olympic Games to take inspiration from his story in the Athens 2004 edition in Greece.
Chong Wei said the national players who will be competing in the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, starting next month should not give up and fight to the last drop to ensure they can qualify for the world's biggest sports event like how he did almost two decades ago.
The winner of the men's singles silver medal three times in a row at the Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 editions admitted that he did not expect to represent the country at the 2004 Olympic Games since he had never represented the country at the SEA Games or the Asian Games at that time.
"At that time, only Wong Choong Hann and Roslin Hashim were confirmed going (to Athens), but when participating in the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Kuala Lumpur, I managed to advance to the quarter-finals and was indirectly able to be in 15th position in the top 16 ranking for the Olympic Games because at that time each country was allowed to send three representatives instead of two like now.
"I didn't feel any pressure at all because no one expected a medal from me in Athens 2004. After Choong Hann and Roslin were eliminated, I was the only one left who played against the then number two player in the world from China, Chen Hong, in the round of 16 and was disappointed to lose even though I played the rubber game but I learned a lot there," he told reporters here today.
Chong Wei said this at the opening ceremony of Soul Sports Physio and Rehab Centre, which was also attended by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
Besides hoping Malaysia will have two men singles in Paris 2024, the former world number one also wants to see the country have more options who can compete to fill the top 16 positions in the Olympic Games ranking in that category.
"Of course Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong I always say I hope will be in the top 16 in the Olympic qualification but for Tze Yong he has to fight because it's not easy. At the same time, I also hope there is a third or fourth singles player such as Leong Jun Hao or Cheam June Wei who will be in the fight for Paris 2024," he said.
At the same time, he wants to share his experience of handling the pressure when competing in his past four editions of the Olympic Games with all athletes including those listed in the 'Road To Gold' (RTG) programme because to him it is not easy to face the challenge.
Meantime, the 2016 BAC champion said it will not be easy for Zii Jia to defend his BAC crown this year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates but believes the world number four can do it if he shows his best performance.
Zii Jia, who is seeded third in Dubai, will open his campaign against Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long, today.
Regarding the opening of the Soul Sports Physio and Rehab Centre, Chong Wei said the idea of establishing the centre came with two of his business partners, Malaysian Basketball Association president, Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock and MJHM Sdn Bhd chairman, Datuk Mike Tee Swee Guan, after understanding the importance of injury prevention for athletes or the general public and treating injuries suffered.
Meanwhile, Hannah informed that RTG coordinator, Stuart Ramalingam, along with Chong Wei and two other national sports legends, Datuk Nicol David (squash) and Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi (hockey), are still in the process of evaluating all the requirements of the 15 athletes listed in the programme.
"Basically, many need facilities at the National Sports Institute, especially indie players (badminton), but all of these will be scrutinised, including the required budget," she said.
Among the athletes listed in the RTG programme are Zii Jia, defending men's doubles world champion, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, national track cycling champion, Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and national diving queen, Datuk Pandelela Rinong.
The RTG is a national project with the objective to coordinate the country's efforts in hunting for the maiden gold medal at the Olympic Games starting with Paris 2024.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Wed Apr 26 2023
Datuk Lee Chong Wei wants national shuttlers who have never had the experience of competing in the Olympic Games to take inspiration from his story in the Athens 2004 edition in Greece. - Filepic
Program Jana Wibawa dilaksana selepas dapat persetujuan Jemaah Menteri - Saksi
Mahkamah Sesyen di sini hari ini diberitahu bahawa cadangan mengenai Jana Wibawa telah dibawa ke mesyuarat untuk pertimbangan sebelum Jemaah Menteri memutuskan supaya program itu diteruskan pada 2020.
[TERKINI] Sidang Media Perdana Menteri di Riyadh, Arab Saudi
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengadakan sidang media susulan lawatan kerja rasmi ke Mesyuarat Khas WEF 2024 di Riyadh Arab Saudi.
KDN muktamad pembelian empat helikopter untuk APMM bernilai RM600 juta
Kertas kerja bagi perolehan aset itu sudah diserahkan kepada Kementerian Kewangan untuk keputusan akhir.
Tulis ancaman bom atas bungkusan, pekerja stor didenda RM3,000
Muhammad Rozali Rahim, 23, membuat pengakuan itu ketika pertuduhan terhadapnya dibacakan di hadapan Majistret Muhammad Bukhori Md Ruslan.
Kempen PRK KKB lancar setakat ini - Polis Selangor
Kempen PRK DUN KKB yang memasuki hari ketiga hari ini berjalan lancar dan tiada sebarang insiden tidak diingini dilaporkan setakat ini.
Buletin AWANI Khas: Asia Barat sedang ‘Stress’: Dialog menteri-menteri dunia Arab
Situasi meruncing di Gaza, konflik Iran-Israel dan ditambah pula persaingan kuat dua kuasa, Amerika Syarikat dan China dilihat terus membayangi percaturan geopolitik dan geoekonomi negara-negara Islam di Asia Barat. Beberapa Menteri Luar negara-negara Arab duduk sepentas di Mesyuarat Khas WEF, Riyadh dalam sesi ini.
#SpecialMeeting24
#SpecialMeeting24
AWANI Ringkas: Projek NTC | Sindiket Dadah
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Kilang cat terbakar, dua sekolah di Meru diarah ditutup
Penutupan dua buah sekolah terlibat iaitu SK Meru dan Sekolah Rendah Agama Meru 2 itu dibuat atas faktor keselamatan.
AWANI 7:45 [29/04/2024] – Meja bulat bersama 50 pemimpin industri dunia | Penggunaan komersial capai 80 peratus
PM yakin Malaysia jadi destinasi pelabur bernilai tinggi.
Kerajaan perkenal program solar untuk pengguna komersial.
Kelas Terapung dilaksana kawasan penduduk kepadatan tinggi.
Laporan Bank Dunia dedah hanya 58 peratus pelajar mahir membaca menjelang akhir darjah 5.
Kerajaan perkenal program solar untuk pengguna komersial.
Kelas Terapung dilaksana kawasan penduduk kepadatan tinggi.
Laporan Bank Dunia dedah hanya 58 peratus pelajar mahir membaca menjelang akhir darjah 5.
Malaysia perlu berani menentang Denmark
Hanya kemenangan menentang Denmark, kuasa besar badminton dunia, dalam aksi penting Kumpulan D Piala Thomas 2024 esok akan membawa Malaysia mendahului carta kedudukan.
Legenda badminton dunia berkumpul di Menara Eiffel
Chong Wei memberikan penghormatan khas kepada penganjur Perlawanan Paris 100 kerana menjemputnya ke perlawanan legenda badminton terbaik dunia.
Lee Chong Wei terkandas di Paris
Chong Wei berkunjung ke Paris untuk majlis 'The Paris 100 Sino-French Badminton Charity Gala' sejak hujung minggu lalu.
Keresahan Chong Wei ada asas namun tidak cerminkan prestasi keseluruhan - Norza
Keresahan disuarakan Datuk Lee Chong Wei susulan keputusan kurang memberangsangkan pada Kejohanan BATC 2024 mempunyai asas tersendiri.
Chong Wei sumber inspirasi Alwi Farhan
Bintang muda Indonesia Alwi Farhan Alhasny menjadikan legenda badminton negara Datuk Lee Chong Wei sebagai idola.
Lee Zii Jia pasrah kerap dibanding dengan Lee Chong Wei
Malah, Zii Jia akui hubungannya dan Chong Wei sebagai 'pelik' terutama selepas bergerak secara profesional.
Final Jelajah Dunia BWF: Axelsen samai rekod tiga kejuaraan berturut-turut Lee Chong Wei
Victor Axelsen mempertahankan gelarannya dalam acara perseorangan lelaki Final Jelajah Dunia BWF dengan menewaskan Shi Yu Qi semalam.
Chong Wei sudah jangka Zii Jia tolak RTG
Legenda badminton negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei sudah dapat menjangka pemain perseorangan profesional negara, Lee Zii Jia tidak berminat menyertai program Road To Gold (RTG).
Nicol David, Chong Wei dan Mirnawan dipilih sebagai ahli jawatankuasa Road to Gold
Tiga legenda sukan negara itu dipilih atas kepakaran serta pengalaman mereka dalam sukan.
Chong Wei harap Zii Jia selesaikan perjanjian RTG
Jawatankuasa RTG akan membincangkan tindakan susulan pada mesyuarat seterusnya, jika jaguh badminton perseorangan lelaki negara Lee Zii Jia tidak menandatangani perjanjian persetujuan komitmen LOC.
"Bukan sekadar kawan, tetapi keluarga" - Chong Wei sebak pemergian Ah Gan
Berita itu dikongsikan jaguh badminton negara Datuk Lee Chong Wei di media sosialnya.