Sunday May 4, 2008 Badminton: Top singles player Chong Wei misses mentor Misbun at camp By RAJES PAUL Star Online PORT DICKSON: Absence, they say, makes the heart grow fonder. And that aptly describes how Lee Chong Wei is feeling at the moment. The absence of national singles coach Misbun Sidek from the Thomas-Uber Cup team-building camp here has left Chong Wei feeling a little down. Different game: Malaysia抯 Thomas and Uber Cuppers enjoying a game of waterpolo during their team-building camp in Port Dickson yesterday. Misbun had to skip the three-day programme to care for his sick wife. Chong Wei, however, has been drawing inspiration by recalling coach Misbun抯 words of encouragement to him as he gears up for the Finals, which will be held in Jakarta from May 11-18. 揟here is no place I would rather my coach be right now than by his wife抯 side,? Chong Wei said after some fun activities in the pool at the Bayu Beach Resort here yesterday. 揌e has been downcast over the last few days but he has still given his best for me and the other players during training (at Bukit Jalil). 揌e may not be here but I am taking all his advice to heart. Lately, he has been focusing on me a lot, drumming a few things into my head, like 'Wei, watch what you eat?, 憇leep early? and 憇tay focused on the mission ahead?.? In fact, Chong Wei now appreciates the role played by Misbun in charting his progress into a world-class player. 揗isbun is more than a coach to me. He is like a father to me. One way for me to repay him for all his sacrifices will be to do well in the two major tournaments this year ? the Thomas Cup Finals and the Beijing Olympic Games in August,? said Chong Wei. 揙ver the years, I have learnt to respect him more and more. I used to dread Thursdays because of his punishing physical trainings (at the Bukit Jalil track). But after a while, I started looking forward to it. 揌e has been there for me when my badminton career was at its lowest ebb. 揂nd I want to be there for him now. I hope everything works out well for Misbun and that he will be back ? without anything to worry about ahead of next week抯 Finals.? On his role as the first singles in the Finals, the 26-year-old Chong Wei is hoping to perform better than his previous outing in Japan in 2006. Then, Chong Wei played as the first singles but failed to get the better of Peter Gade-Christensen in the semi-final tie against Denmark. Malaysia eventually lost 2-3. 揑 have improved. I should be able to handle the pressure as the first singles better now. This time, I hope to keep a clean record by winning all my matches,? he said. For the record, Malaysia last won the Thomas Cup in 1992.
Sounds fun!!.. ..aahh, while the M'sian shuttlers spent a weekend in PD, our ants went to TR & enjoyed eating some rambutans?!... ..well, with winnie, any kind of activites by the M'sian team will surely spark her interest in finding pics of them. Esp. with ah Koo in the pics... Btw, am i the only one seeing YapKH and Rexy going shirtless, in one of the pics??..
ALL GREAT PICTURE LA GUYS.Congrats. Winnie and george,thank u. My love for kkk is growing bigger now. Those activites can bring our players closer.I think thats what they are trying to do. Our problems on not-supportive teammates should be settled now.
DUA SEJOLI: Chong Wei (kiri) dan Mew Choo yang dikhabarkan dilamun cinta begitu ceria menjelang saingan Piala Thomas dan Uber di Jakarta hari ini. I had to smile when i saw this photo...so sweet...and their relationship went public??
Can Chong Wei keep a clean sweep at this thomas cup juzlike he did in the Sudirman Cup 2007 last year juz like he prevented Lin Dan to whitewash Malaysia?
He is doing what he suppose to do, that deserves a praise. If LCW cant win the SO Title, then no need to play OG already.
hmm...tina was just too strong for wmc now...hoping tina help her whip out all chinese and facing her in final...then choo choo will battle with her life...
Tine is better than WMC.Thats fact. To see WMC in the final of OG? I would say it's Mission Impossible.