A delighted Lee Chong Wei expects spirited display from shuttlers at Thomas Cup Finals
Malaysia’s most successful and ace shuttler Lee Chong Wei, who has returned from Macau after achieving his target to help the national squad in reaching at the semi-final stage in the Thomas Cup Preliminary Round, expects that team will put up the same spirited display in the Thomas Cup Finals, in May, at Wuhan.
The World Number One Chong Wei is delighted with what his team did in Macau and he said that they are on the right track and can deliver a strong performance again at the Finals, in China.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei expressed that team spirit was the key that earned them unexpected victories in the qualifying round as they defeated South Korea that had more depth in their squad.
While playing against Korea, Malaysia’s elite players, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, also showed a strong character when they defied all odds by beating Korea’s Yoo Yeon Seong and Ko Sung Hyun.
The World Number Six Kien Keat and Boon Heong won their first ever battle against the Korean pair in their seven meetings indicating that they are confident to take the challenge in the upcoming events.
The team captain Chong Wei, who won all of his matches in the qualifying round of Thomas Cup Finals, was satisfied with the team spirit.
He said, “The most important thing is that the team qualified and defeated South Korea. Some won and some lost but everyone was there to support one another. Team spirit saw us through the qualifiers.”
While talking about the performance of national back-up shuttlers, Chong Wei said that he was quite happy with the way the young shuttlers fought in the tournament. Goh V Shem, Lim Khim Wah, Daren Liew and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif showed a great spirit.
Chong Wei said, “If we can maintain the same spirit and determination, we will be able to defy the odds at the Finals as well. We will be going to Wuhan as underdogs but I am confident that we will give everyone a run for their money.”
Malaysians will be underdogs in the Finals but they have the potential to spoil the party of any team if Koo Kien and Boon Heong along with Chong Wei win their points and give a good start to their team.
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