Badminton: I’m better player now, claims Chong Wei

[ixory]

Badminton: I’m better player now, claims Chong Wei

By : Christopher Raj

NST Online (http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/Sport/20070628080234/Article/index_html)



http://www.nst.com.my/Thursday/Sport/20070628080234/insidepix1
Chong Wei claims his life has changed dramatically under Misbun Sidek.

HAPPINESS and inner strength are two important elements for Lee Chong Wei when he gets on court.
And the National No 1 has found both since being coached by Misbun Sidek and he claims his life has changed dramatically since April when he left Wong Tat Ming to join Misbun.

The happiness and inner strength that he has gained over the last few months has also boosted Chong Wei’s confidence level and commitment to win.

"My life has changed now. Misbun’s guidance has made me a better player," said Chong Wei a training session at Bukit Kiara yesterday.

"I am at peace with myself now."

Chong Wei has decided to skip the Thailand Open which starts on Wednesday to prepare for the China Masters (July 10-15) and the World Championships (Aug 13-19).

"I might play in the Philippines Open, but it all depends on the coach. It will be like a warm-up tournament before the World Championships," added the World No 4.

"I have been going through different phases of training now which varies from the morning session to the one in the evening. These sessions give me more confidence when I play an attacking game which is something I have regained after some time."

As always, Chong Wei’s big threats in the China Masters and World Championships will be World No 1 1 Lin Dan, his compatriot Chen Jin and Indonesia’s Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat.

Since training under Misbun, Chong Wei has shown marked improvement in his all-round game which won him the Indonesia Open title last month, and secured an impressive win over Lin Dan in the recent Sudirman Cup in Glasgow.

"I have regained my composure, I have gone through my own humbling process and I believe all this has contributed to the changes that has taken place within me," said Chong Wei.

Chong Wei, who always does well at home, and with his new-found motivation, might just beat the odds in the World Championships.

[Pemuda]

If you ask me who is Malaysia best prospect to win the WC and bring home the Olympic Gold, it will be this guy.

[OneToughBirdie]

[quote=Pemuda;604180]If you ask me who is Malaysia best prospect to win the WC and bring home the Olympic Gold, it will be this guy.[/quote
I would say MAS MD team of 4 pairs have a SLIGHTLY combined better chance than LCW. I would say LCW chance has improved since IO07 but a lot depends on the draw.

[cooler]

If you ask me who is Malaysia best prospect to win the WC and bring home the Olympic Gold, it will be this guy. If lcw maintains his current form, yes, he would go far plus he has much less pressure to win than any chinese players. Just imagine the pressure comes 2008 beijing OG on the chinese players. I sure dont want to be in LD's shoes:D

[Pemuda]

[quote=Pemuda;604180]If you ask me who is Malaysia best prospect to win the WC and bring home the Olympic Gold, it will be this guy.[/quote
I would say MAS MD team of 4 pairs have a SLIGHTLY combined better chance than LCW. I would say LCW chance has improved since IO07 but a lot depends on the draw.

Our MD teams I think are overated and I think it will be a tall order for them to deliver the WC or Olympic Gold. I am prepared to eat humble pie if they do bring home either the WC or Olympic Gold.

LCW, I rate his chances to land the WC title as good. 7/10

[OneToughBirdie]

[quote=OneToughBirdie;604192]

Our MD teams I think are overated and I think it will be a tall order for them to deliver the WC or Olympic Gold. I am prepared to eat humble pie if they do bring home either the WC or Olympic Gold.

LCW, I rate his chances to land the WC title as good. 7/10

It is one LCW against the best MS in the world...with 4 MAS MD qualifying, the odds are better with home soil, MAS fans in stadium, etc...I agree with TH possibly out, LCW chances are better...but I would not count out LD, unless he is hurt, a betting person would be silly not to bet on him with the world stage as big as WC. And I would love to see LCW win to be 1st MAS WC.:D

[pjswift]

[quote=Pemuda;604180]If you ask me who is Malaysia best prospect to win the WC and bring home the Olympic Gold, it will be this guy.[/quote
I would say MAS MD team of 4 pairs have a SLIGHTLY combined better chance than LCW. I would say LCW chance has improved since IO07 but a lot depends on the draw.
LCW's only problem is his match preparations. In the past, even when the draw was good and his WR super,the outcome did not match.His IO07 title is a reflection of his match preparations coming together, not the draw.He did not beat BCL and CH by a whisker; they were left trailing.
LCW has an enviable array of weapons but in the past he could not unleash them effectively cos they were in disarray. Neither the coach nor he could concoct a formidable formula. With possibly some indirect clues through BP's refreshing play (via his INA coach) in SO07,the formula could be visualised.And supercharged by his No.1 speed weapon, I believe it would be difficult for his opponents to keep up with him when all his other weapons work in synergy.They may be able to keep up with him for the first 10 mins,have trouble in the next 10 and barely in the 3rd 10....
So all LCW needs to take care of is this trigger problem:Match preparations. When superb, confidence and calm and his A game will prevail,even under pressure, come what draw. When not, uncertainty and fear will result, no matter how good the draw.
The nicest part is ,the choice lies with LCW. Match preparations is totally within his (and coach Misbun's ) control. No opponent decides that for him.

[taufik-ist]

Misbun becomes hero now, after getting many critics and bashing from Bc members :)

[ants]

Both our Mens Singles and doubles have the chance to be in the podium. What color of the Medal will be hard to say.

[azabaz_ipoh]

gold gold gold!!!!! i hope the colour's gold!!!!! :D

[Jessica]

Well,LCW is a really hard working and talented player.I really hpoe that he can get the World Champion title this year and i believe he has the ability to do it,good luck to him.

[zqloy]

Misbun becomes hero now, after getting many critics and bashing from Bc members :)

Mainly because of the lousiness of Hafiz Hashim :p

[Felicia_txh]

Better player is not enough to win WC,superb player sure can become the champion!!:D:D:D;):)
Work Hard!!Chong Wei!!
All the best!!;)
I believe u can do it!!

[Felicia_txh]

Mainly because of the lousiness of Hafiz Hashim :p
When he will start to play badminton again??:rolleyes::rolleyes:
I hope he can play better than those days..:o

[s1nn3r]

Our MD just start to pushing up, it might be too early to judge their abilities as their opponents hasnt yet to indetify their total weakness yet!

[tjl_vanguard]

haha chong wei has a chance... LD has a chance... CJ, BCL, CY all have their chances as well.. its wide open.. still to early to predict.. he might beat LD this time but maybe not next time.... still depends on that day.. :D

[azabaz_ipoh]

i agree with you tjl. every top player has a chance to win. it will depend on who is more prepared, more motivated, no injuries, and frankly a bit lucky. but i still hope LCW wins it. :D

[SImplelenna]

haha chong wei has a chance... LD has a chance... CJ, BCL, CY all have their chances as well.. its wide open.. still to early to predict.. he might beat LD this time but maybe not next time.... still depends on that day.. :D
yess, i agree with you,just wait till the day is coming....don't be too optimisc, just wait the day playing better and a little bit lucky:D

[V3i HoN6]

I would be happy and satisfied if he show some good quality and beat CJ, either Taufik or Peter Gade or LD and make it to the final. A silver is good enough if it can be a 3 set tough match to his final opponent.

There is only 1 champion and there are too many good players. We should learn to give more credits to the finalist.

[aaron_11]

i think LCW has great chances of winning the WC coz its held in mas.. since he is ony good at winning on home soil.. haha.. i don see any chances of mas winning the MD title.. too much pressure on them n wit kkk/tbh current form, i don think they can make much surprise in WC.. it will be a 1 sided tournament for cai n fu if kkk/tbh don buck up n make amends for their defeat to them... the ony hurdle for LCW is to topple lin dan.. so good luck to LCW.. hope kkk/tbh wont make us disspointed yet another time... haha.. i would prefer fairuzizuan/zakri to enter final rather the kkk/tbh.. got luck fairuz/zakri too.. haha..

[azabaz_ipoh]

i think LCW has great chances of winning the WC coz its held in mas.. since he is ony good at winning on home soil.. haha.. i don see any chances of mas winning the MD title.. too much pressure on them n wit kkk/tbh current form, i don think they can make much surprise in WC.. it will be a 1 sided tournament for cai n fu if kkk/tbh don buck up n make amends for their defeat to them... the ony hurdle for LCW is to topple lin dan.. so good luck to LCW.. hope kkk/tbh wont make us disspointed yet another time... haha.. i would prefer fairuzizuan/zakri to enter final rather the kkk/tbh.. got luck fairuz/zakri too.. haha..

LCW won in indonesia. and it is hard winning in indonesia because of the strong fan support there. so i think maybe LCW has got over the home base winner tag. :) Men Doubles are still looking good for us. at least there's a 50 50 chance with FHF/CY being the players to beat. i hope KKK/TBH will perform better if not win the title. and i hope zakry/fairuz will perform well to and maybe upsets top players. who knows, the underdog can win it :D

[Felicia_txh]

LCW won in indonesia. and it is hard winning in indonesia because of the strong fan support there. so i think maybe LCW has got over the home base winner tag. :) Men Doubles are still looking good for us. at least there's a 50 50 chance with FHF/CY being the players to beat. i hope KKK/TBH will perform better if not win the title. and i hope zakry/fairuz will perform well to and maybe upsets top players. who knows, the underdog can win it :D
Agreed..:D:Dbut it's abit hard for Fairuz n Zakry..Top players usually play very carefully if they meet the players they never meet b4..;)

[aaron_11]

but lots of pressure n attention were given to cy/fhf n kkk/tbh so they will make alots of mistake.. n normally the top seat will not win(normally) and the underdogs r the wan gonna win.. just like tony n howard... so hope the same things happend here.. hope either fairuz/zakry or kkk/tbh will win the title.. n also LCW..