i can see 2 ways to answer the question of this thread: 1. LCW remained the WR1 up til the end of the 2012 OG Qualifying period. Thus going into the OG as No.1 seed. 2. LCW is not the WR1 when the 2012 OG starts.
SO LCW HAS LOST HIS WR1 POSITION TO LD AT LONG LAST AND BEFORE LONDON OLYMPICS. This represents the true position of who is currently the world's best player as LD has beaten LCW more times. Of course if LD can win the Olympics again, it will confirm his superiority unless LCW can do one better by capturing the Olympic gold medal. But the prospect for LCW looks rather daunting compared with other high ranking and younger players because of LCW's recent 'problems', especially his injuries. So those who bet on LCW retaining his WR1 ranking will have to eat humble pie.
LOL !! Way to state the obvioius. Yes its' a shame LCW has finally lost his world number 1 status. This usually happens when a player reaches old/retirement age. All this while he has been trying to do the impossible, that is dethrone a 'GIANT' (CHINA) from it's rightful place. All credit to him for doing so for the past 4 years. His time has come, if he doesn't reach the semis or final at olympics this time nobody will blame him now that he is injured. p.s. He should do what's best for himself and retire after the games while he still has world number 2 spot !!!! Playing further will only make people like Miqilin7 call him another Taufik Hidayat (carry on playing even after his prime).
Lee Chong Wei has 22 days to return to peak form . Source: http://www.nst.com.my/latest/enough-time-for-chong-wei-to-reach-top-form-nsi-1.99816# KUALA LUMPUR: The two-week period before Datuk Lee Chong Wei sees action at the London Olympics is probably the most critical time to determine the national badminton ace's form, said National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz. He said that it was during this period that Chong Wei had to ensure that he was free from injury, apart from not being burdened with personal problems, so as to focus on the game. "The period from the time he sustained the injury at the Thomas Cup championship in May to the Olympics in July is about 64 days. The recuperating process of his injury is six weeks or 42 days. "Mathematically, from the first day he sustained the injury, minus the recovering period, Lee Chong Wei has 22 days to return to peak form. "The usual duration is only 14 days. So, a 22-day period is sufficient for the player to reach competitive condition," he told Bernama here today. Dr Ramlan said that though Chong Wei was now ranked number two in the world, he had been not been tested physically in competitive tournaments but the player was committed to attending all training provided by the NSI. "As an example, in the first two to three weeks of his recovery, he was still having a phobia to go jogging. So, the NSI provided alternative training such as cycling and running in water to maintain his physical endurance," he said. Chong Wei, who won a silver medal at the men's singles in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, will be joining the national badminton squad in the final phase of training at Bath University, United Kingdom, on July 12. The squad will stay for 13 days at the university, located in Somerset, 156 km from London, before leaving for the British capital on July 25. The London Olympic Games will be held from July 27 to Aug 12. -- BERNAMA .
Allow LCW time and space to do what is right and proper . TIH SEONG PIN, from Malacca, wrote; I agree with national coach Tey Seu Bok’s assessment that despite Datuk Lee Chong Wei dropping to No.2 behind China’s Lin Dan in the world ranking list released recently by the World Badminton Federa-tion (WBF), will not in any way demoralise our best badminton player in his effort to win a first gold medal for the country in the coming London Olympic Games later this month. Chong Wei sustained an ankle injury in last May’s Thomas Cup competition in China, and had to skip last month’s Indonesian and Singapore Open. He would have done well if he had competed. Being World No. 2 now would certainly ease the pressure on him and is definitely not a tell-tale sign of decline. It is nothing to feel sad about, considering Chong Wei has been on top of badminton for four long years, a great achievement that even Lin Dan cannot claim. Being No.1 no doubt is fantastic, but in Chong Wei’s case it wasn’t always sunshine as he has never won gold in the most prestigious Olympic Games, the World championship and the Asian Games to justify his No.1 position. This latest ranking by the WBF could help him to turn things around with the Olympics just around the corner. All Chong Wei needs is to take things easy and rebuild his confidence as he is just recovering from his injury and must not exert himself in his daily training. No doubt this Penangite shoulders the heavy responsibility of carrying the nation’s hopes in winning a gold, but with the present situation I think everyone understands and is sympathetic to Chong Wei. As long as he gives his best, even if he does not perform up to expectation in London, no one will blame him. For the past decade, Chong Wei has done the country proud by winning many international titles. We all take pride in him and thank him for his wonderful service to the nation. As one of the world’s most seasoned and accomplished players, he is experienced and mature enough to handle whatever setback that comes his way. It is no different this time. Allow him time and space to do what is right and proper, wish him well, and may Chong Wei be in the best condition — physically, mentally and emotionally to do what he does best, play badminton! Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/3/focus/11565430&sec=focus .
A gold bar worth 2 million ringgit . I believe LCW is thinking of winning this; A gold bar worth 2 million ringgit Source: http://www.euronews.com/sport/1581938-malaysian-tycoon-offers-golden-carrot-to-badminton-team/ REUTERS, 11/07 08:40 CET A Malaysian mining magnate has offered the country’s Olympic badminton team a gold bar worth 2 million ringgit (405,614 pounds) if they can bring home a first gold medal from the London Games. The steamy Southeast Asian country has never won gold at a Games dating back to their first in 1956, but has won two bronze and two silver medals, all in badminton. Andrew Kam, a badminton enthusiast and chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Racquet Club Berhad (KLRC), offered the additional sweetener to the team, who have already been offered 1 million ringgit by the government and a separate private firm to win gold. “KLRC would like to play a part in helping this dream become a reality – and that is to capture the elusive gold medal which our country has yet to achieve,” Kam said in a statement carried by local media. “Towards this end, on behalf of KLRC Berhad, I would like to throw a challenge to our Malaysian badminton team: If any of you brings home a gold medal from London 2012, there is a 2 million ringgit gold bar waiting for you here. Gold for gold!" “Please see this as an incentive and work hard to achieve this dream.” Men’s singles silver medallist Lee Chong Wei, who lost the gold medal match to China’s badminton great Lin Dan at the Beijing Games, is likely to be Malaysia’s greatest hope of a maiden gold. Lee, however, is scrambling to be fit in time for the July 28 – August 5 tournament at Wembley Arena after suffering an ankle injury in May. “There is no question that this is the kind of reward that will help the players rise to the occasion,” Lee told local media. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne Editing by Amlan Chakraborty) .
If the offer is well-meant, it should have come much earlier as a real incentive for the hopefuls to prepare themselves to take up the challenge. It is not of any real good at this eleventh hour when there is little chance for them to rise to the occasion given their recent uninspiring performances at the international stage and the injuries suffered by LCW, the best prospect for gold. Remember the Olympics is one rare prestigious event for others to shine too and this makes the competition much harder even for LCW who is not expected to be 100% fit.
