WORLD No.1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei is set to excite badminton fans around the world as he pairs up with arch-rival and five-time world champion Lin Dan in an exhibition match this Sunday.
The 31-year-old, when met at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara today said āI have been invited by the Chinese Badminton Association to play in this exhibition match where both Lin Dan and I are to face China’s men’s doubles expert Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng.
āTheir head coach Li Yongbo also invited me after the Malaysia Open last month and have sent an invitation to BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) as well.ā
The men’s doubles match between the badminton greats is in conjunction with the launch of a new national training centre in Lingshui, China.
āI hear the China players will begin their All England Open preparations in this new centre. I feel great to be invited to play in an exhibition match to help promote badminton in China and to raise publicity among Asians, Malaysians and the rest of the world,ā added Chong Wei, who will also compete in the All England from March 4-9.
Apart from the much anticipated partnership with Lin Dan, Chong Wei was also glad that Musica Flypower defended their title at the Indonesian Super League (ISL) in Surabaya last Sunday, which saw the Malaysian feature in two of their group ties.
āThis is my first year celebrating Chinese New Year with my wife (Wong Mew Choo) and son (Kingston Lee) and I was a little reluctant to join at first.
āBut the owner of the club is a good friend of mine and he really wanted me to play and so I got back to train on the second day of Chinese New Year to prepare myself for the ISL. I couldn’t play till the end though, as I had a prayer function to attend back home on Friday,ā Chong Wei concluded.
