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09-08-2004, 02:15 AM
The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my/default.asp) > Sports (http://thestar.com.my/news/sports/)
Wednesday September 8, 2004
After Athens flop, Chong Wei seeks success in Europe
By Rajes Paul
KUALA LUMPUR: National singles player Lee Chong Wei will be out to lift the gloom hanging over the Malaysian badminton camp following the team's failure at the recent Athens Olympics by doing well in the Dutch and Danish Open tournaments.
Chong Wei is the only player from the Olympic squad picked by singles chief coach Misbun Sidek to play in the two back-to-back tournaments on the European Grand Prix circuit.
Misbun has left out national number one Wong Choong Hann and veteran Mohd Roslin Hashim. Also in the singles line-up for the tournaments are second stringers Kuan Beng Hong, Yeoh Kay Bin, K. Yogendran, Chong Wei Feng and Mohd Azrihanif Azahar.
The Dutch Open will be played from Sept 28-Oct 3 followed by the Danish Open from Oct 5-10.
The 22-year-old Chong Wei, who was beaten by China's Chen Hong in the second round of the Olympic competition, said: “I still feel hurt thinking about the Olympics. I was so close to upsetting Chen Hong.
“The public is upset too over the overall performance of the team and the morale of the national team is down.
“I will give my best in both the upcoming tournaments and hopefully, a good outing in Holland and Denmark will bring back the smiles.”
Chong Wei said that the defeat in his Olympic debut would spur him on to further improve his play to give a stronger challenge in the next Olympics in Beijing in 2008.
“Athens has given me good experience. I will work hard over the next four years. I hope to win several titles and continue to work hard on my game,” he said.
Chong Wei's immediate task is the Malacca Open next week and he has been seeded second behind Choong Hann in the tournament.
“The 'big boss' (Choong Hann) is the favourite. I will give him a good fight,” said Chong Wei.
Misbun said that it was Chong Wei's lack of experience that let him down in Athens Games.
“I am sending him to more international tournaments so that he will be prepared to face any situation,” said Misbun.
“I want Choong Hann and Roslin to have a longer break to polish their games. They will be back for the Open tournaments in China (Nov 9-14), Singapore (Nov 15-21), Taiwan (Nov 30-Dec 5) and Hong Kong (Dec 6-12).
On plans for another national shuttler, Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Misbun said: “I want to gauge his performances in the coming Malacca Open before deciding on whether to send him out again for international tournaments.”
He said that he had included the top two juniors, Wei Feng and Azrihanif, as part of their preparation for the World Junior Championships in Vancouver, Canada, from Oct 21-30.
“Wei Feng, Azrihanif, Beng Hong, Kay Bin and Yogendran are now competing in the Singapore Satellite. If their performances are below par, I will drop them from the squad for the European tournaments,” said Misbun.
Wednesday September 8, 2004
After Athens flop, Chong Wei seeks success in Europe
By Rajes Paul
KUALA LUMPUR: National singles player Lee Chong Wei will be out to lift the gloom hanging over the Malaysian badminton camp following the team's failure at the recent Athens Olympics by doing well in the Dutch and Danish Open tournaments.
Chong Wei is the only player from the Olympic squad picked by singles chief coach Misbun Sidek to play in the two back-to-back tournaments on the European Grand Prix circuit.
Misbun has left out national number one Wong Choong Hann and veteran Mohd Roslin Hashim. Also in the singles line-up for the tournaments are second stringers Kuan Beng Hong, Yeoh Kay Bin, K. Yogendran, Chong Wei Feng and Mohd Azrihanif Azahar.
The Dutch Open will be played from Sept 28-Oct 3 followed by the Danish Open from Oct 5-10.
The 22-year-old Chong Wei, who was beaten by China's Chen Hong in the second round of the Olympic competition, said: “I still feel hurt thinking about the Olympics. I was so close to upsetting Chen Hong.
“The public is upset too over the overall performance of the team and the morale of the national team is down.
“I will give my best in both the upcoming tournaments and hopefully, a good outing in Holland and Denmark will bring back the smiles.”
Chong Wei said that the defeat in his Olympic debut would spur him on to further improve his play to give a stronger challenge in the next Olympics in Beijing in 2008.
“Athens has given me good experience. I will work hard over the next four years. I hope to win several titles and continue to work hard on my game,” he said.
Chong Wei's immediate task is the Malacca Open next week and he has been seeded second behind Choong Hann in the tournament.
“The 'big boss' (Choong Hann) is the favourite. I will give him a good fight,” said Chong Wei.
Misbun said that it was Chong Wei's lack of experience that let him down in Athens Games.
“I am sending him to more international tournaments so that he will be prepared to face any situation,” said Misbun.
“I want Choong Hann and Roslin to have a longer break to polish their games. They will be back for the Open tournaments in China (Nov 9-14), Singapore (Nov 15-21), Taiwan (Nov 30-Dec 5) and Hong Kong (Dec 6-12).
On plans for another national shuttler, Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Misbun said: “I want to gauge his performances in the coming Malacca Open before deciding on whether to send him out again for international tournaments.”
He said that he had included the top two juniors, Wei Feng and Azrihanif, as part of their preparation for the World Junior Championships in Vancouver, Canada, from Oct 21-30.
“Wei Feng, Azrihanif, Beng Hong, Kay Bin and Yogendran are now competing in the Singapore Satellite. If their performances are below par, I will drop them from the squad for the European tournaments,” said Misbun.