There he was on the top of the podium flanked by two Indian players – silver medallist K. Srikanth on his right and bronze medallist H. S. Prannoy on his left – as Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s broad smile spoke of his satisfaction of winning his third men’s singles Commonwealth Games gold medal.
 
The 35-year-old Malaysian was proudly presented the gold medal by none other than Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) supremo Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria who also gave him a warm hug for his achievement.
Chong Wei came back from a game down to beat Srikanth, the current world number one, 19-21, 21-14, 21-14 in 65 minutes – and exact sweet revenge for his 17-21, 14-21, defeat to the Indian in the mixed team final.
 
It was Chong Wei’s only defeat to Srikanth in four meetings then. 
 
Chong Wei’s gold was Malaysia’s sixth gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games which equalled the gold medal tally at the last Games in 2014 in Glasgow. 
 
The badminton team did end their campaign with another gold – in the women’s doubles with scratch pair Vivian Hoo-Chow Mei Kuan stunned third seeds Lauren Smith-Sarah Walker of England in straights 21-12, 21-12 in the women’s doubles final.
Badminton’s two gold medals on the last day of Games to Malaysia medal tally to 7-5-12 which surpassed the Glasgow Games (2014) 6-7-6 tally.
In badminton Malaysia failed to achieve their three-gold medal target in Gold Coast and Norza had even predicted a four gold medals. It fell short when Malaysia failed to retain the mixed team gold while the men’s doubles pair of Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong fell in the semi-finals.
 
But for Chong Wei winning his third men’s singles gold it is an achievement and something he can envy. It was  a final he wanted to win badly against Srikanth to add to the titles he won in Melbourne (2006) and New Delhi (2010).
 
After nailing his gold Chong Wei said “age is just a number” but he rode on his mental strength to make up for his only defeat to Srikanth in four meetings. Chong We’s head-to-head count now stands at 5-1 in the Malaysian’s favour. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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