Malaysia’s most decorated shuttler Lee Chong Wei is back on fire after clinching his third gold medal in the Commonwealth Games – defeating India’s world No 1 K. Srikanth in a three-game final in Gold Coast, Australia last Sunday.
The 35-year-old Malaysian carved out a 19-21, 21-14, 21-14 win over the top seeded Indian and in the process gained sweet revenge for his 17-21, 14-21 defeat to the same opponent in the mixed team final which India won 3-1.
For now Chong Wei, who also won the men’s singles at the 2006 Games in Melbourne and in New Delhi in 2010, is embarking on a different mission to keep Malaysia’s flag flying in more important meets.
With his appetite whetted in Gold Coast the Penang-born Chong Wei’s next focus is the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan from April 24-29.
A two-time winner of the Asian title – having won in Johor Bahru (2006) and Wuhan (2016), Chong Wei is seeded only fifth this year and is drawn in the top half with Srikanth, who is the top seed.
The Malaysian has a tricky first round match against China’s Qiao Bin and win will put him in the second round against the winner of Anthony Ginting (Indonesia) and Sri Lanka’s Niluka Karunaratne and a possible quarter-final clash against Srikanth.
In last year’s championships held at the same venue Chong Wei was beaten by Lin Dan in the semi-finals.
“The challenge is far more tougher compared to the Commonwealth Games,” said Chong Wei, who is always a hero to Malaysians.
He might have lost to Srikanth in the mixed team event but his never say die attitude, commitment and pride for the Jalur Gemilang saw him deliver the gold in the singles that saved Malaysia the blushes.
Gold Coast is history for Chong Wei who remains the “ace in the pack” for Malaysia in Wuhan and also the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok from May 20-27 and the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.
In the Asian Games the gold medal has remained elusive for Chong Wei. His best was a silver medal in Guangzhou in 2010. He also won the Asiad bronze in Doha (2006) and Incheon (2014. – BADMINTON ASIA
