World Number 1 acts contrite for his absence at annual award ceremony – Badminton news
Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei, who is World Number 1 in Men’s Singles category, apologised for not showing up at the annual award ceremony of National Sports Council (NSC) in which he was for the third time announced as the Sportsman of the Year.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei, who is bidding to win the first ever gold medal for Malaysia at Olympic Games, said that he was having fever and it got worst which forced him not to participate in the ceremony.
He attended two training sessions despite having fever but it got worst after that in the evening and he had to stay at home which provided an opportunity for many people to criticise him for not attending the award ceremony.
However, Chong Wei met with the general manager NSC Zolkples Embong yesterday and explained everything about his physical condition that did not allow him to show up at the award ceremony.
Zolkples was the one who also criticised the World Number 1 for not attending the meeting. He said that if the prize money had been bigger the shuttler would have attended the ceremony.
However, Chong Wei said that money is not everything for him. He explained that he was suffering with fever and it was severe enough to stop him from participating in the ceremony.
He said, “I met Datuk Zolkples today to say sorry for my absence on Tuesday. I was really sick. The ‘colour’ had drained from my face and I was feeling down and did not want to be at the function looking like that. I am relieved that I have explained everything
... now, I can focus on the Games.”
He added, “This is my last Olympic Games and I need all the support I can get. The pressure is mounting. I hope the media will be supportive too.”
Zolkples also said sorry for his outburst and criticism on Chong Wei and also admired that shuttler for taking initiative and making an apology for his absence at the annual award ceremony.
Chong Wei’s upcoming task is to defend his title at the India Open Super Series, which will be his first tournament after the All England Open Premier Super Series that was held in March.
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