[size=-1]The Star Online > Sports[/size] Saturday July 24, 2004 [size=+2]Chinese ace often struggles in big meets, says Chong Wei[/size] BY RAJES PAUL KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Open men's singles champion Lee Chong Wei feels that most of the players would prefer to be drawn in the same half with second seed Chen Hong in the Athens Olympics. China's world number one Lin Dan is the top seed ahead of teammate Chen Hong in the badminton competition, which will be played from Aug 14-21. Besides Chong Wei, Malaysia will be represented in the singles by third seed Wong Choong Hann and Mohd Roslin Hashim. China also have a maximum of three men's singles qualifiers for the Olympics. The other Chinese in the fray is Bao Chunlai. Malaysia will have two of the three singles players in the half of the draw, which has Lin Dan, or two in the other half. The draw for the competitions will be made on Aug 8. The 21-year-old Chong Wei, who is the youngest Malaysian to qualify for Olympics badminton, said that Chen Hong was a player who choked in big tournaments. “I was surprised when China named Chen Hong instead of Xia Xuanze (the reigning world champion) for the Olympics. Chen Hong is a good player but often struggled in major tournaments,†said Chong Wei, who defeated the 25-year-old Chinese in the Malaysian Open semi-finals last month. Chen Hong also came under fire from his country's press when he lost to South Korean Lee Hyun-il in the Sudirman Cup world mixed team championships in Eindhoven last year. He was also blasted for unimpressive records against Denmark's Peter Gade-Christensen (1-6); Indonesian Taufik Hidayat (2-3); and Choong Hann (2-2). “I think all the players would not want to be in the same half with Lin Dan,†said Chong Wei. “He has been in excellent form and it will be tough to beat him. I guess all of us, will be keeping our fingers crossed that we will be drawn in the same half as Chen Hong.†But Chong Wei added that he was prepared to face anyone in his challenge for the Games. “Choong Hann, Roslin and I have been training hard. If the draw is not favourable, we will still be ready for it,†he said. Malaysia have won a medal once in the men's singles – a bronze through Rashid Sidek in the 1996 Atlanta Games. Two other medals for Malaysia in Olympic history also came from badminton – in the men's doubles. Razif-Jalani Sidek were the bronze medallists when the sport made its debut in the Games in Barcelona in 1992 and Cheah Soon Kit–Yap Kim Hock were silver medallists in the Atlanta Games.
Hope Chong Wei not under estimated Chen Hong ability although never won any big tournament bcos this time is Olympic.
He didn't mention another top player who always choked in major tournments - his teamate - Wong Choong Hann.
im a fan of LCW but im begining to think that he should shut his gap. there's not much good that can come out of such trivial comments. come on LCW, focus. you can do it!
