Lee Chong Wei, most committed Malaysian shuttler of current era – Badminton Feature
The world of badminton always introduces new faces from around the world but there are a few decorated players who never go beyond the front row when it comes to class and achievements. Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei is one such player who has been incredibly
consistent in performing well at international level for the last five years, an achievement just a few players have managed so far in the history of the game.
The World Number One Chong Wei, who has been winning major titles on a consistent basis for the last five years, is known as the most dedicated shuttler in Malaysia where no other shuttler is even close to him in all aspects of the game. He has a proven
track record that no one else has ever achieved from a country that has an incredibly rich badminton culture.
Turning to 30 Chong Wei is known as the “King of Super Series” as he has claimed all major Super Series titles in a dominating manner. He proved that he is the only shuttler who can crush the Chinese formidable line up and has been doing it over and over
again for years. And still he is playing with similar passion and skill despite growing age which shows the highest level of commitment has set for himself.
However, he remained unlucky in winning two most prestigious titles including Olympic Games and Badminton World Championships where luck deserted him when he was just at a smelling distance from victory. Despite having everything in his reserves, he could
not complete his legacy by including these two titles which is a heartbreaking phenomenon for such a great player.
The only player who denied Chong Wei a medal in Olympics and World Championships is China’s most successful player Lin Dan, who is four times World Champion and two times Olympic gold medallist. The Chinese shuttler always comes in the way of Malaysian shuttler
when it mattered most and always departs from the court as victorious leaving Chong Wei behind in dismay.
However, no one can clearly say that Lin is better than Chong Wei when it comes to skill level. Both shuttlers are equal in this department having rich reserves of shots and always manipulate the weaknesses of top shuttlers in the world with their impressive
craft and temperament. But Lin is only better in mental strength as he elevates his level of play at the crucial times which distinguishes him from Chong Wei.
Chong Wei was at match point in the final of 2011 World Championships, held in Wembley Arena in London, but he failed to score the last point and Lin came from behind to take glory away from him. Almost the same happened in 2012 Olympic Games when Chong
Wei was just two points away from winning his first ever gold medal but again failed and conceded four points letting the title slip from his hands.
Besides these heart-breaking moments, that also came in the final against Lin, Chong Wei never let the rest of the world to put up strong resistance and he always remained ahead of all top shuttlers including Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat, China’s Chen Jin
and Chen Long, Denmark’s Peter Hoeg Gade and Korea’s Lee Hyun Il.
In September 2012, Chong Wei won the Japan Open Super Series proving that he has left the bad memories of Olympic Games behind him and is looking forward to continue his tremendous run at international stage. People want him to remain intact until the 2012
Olympic Games and he promised that he will try his best and, if remains physically fit, will continue playing until the mega event.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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