Hollywood-styled event: An image showing the wedding invitation cards.
ODENSE (Denmark): Badminton champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei is ready to embark on a new “mission” now that he has won the Denmark Open title.
He will walk down the aisle on Nov 9 with former national number one Wong Mew Choo, his girlfriend of 11 years.
Lee said he would put everything into ensuring “a wedding that Wong has always dreamt of”.
“It is every woman’s dream to have the best wedding, and I know how important it is to Mew Choo,” said Chong Wei. “I want to make her happy. I want to surprise her with something special. After all, she has waited for 11 years. I want to throw all my energy into my wedding preparations now,” he said, a day after edging China’s Du Pengyu to win the title on his 30th birthday.
“It has been physically draining since the London Olympic Games, but I am happy that I am still able to win titles. Now, it’s time to ensure Mew Choo has a memorable wedding,” he added.
In KUALA LUMPUR, Lee’s elder brother Chong Hoon said the guest list was so long that the customary Chinese dinner would have to be held over two evenings to accommodate the 2,500 guests.
The private tea ceremony takes place at their home on Nov 9. It will be attended by their family, relatives and closest friends.
This will be followed by two dinners – one on the same night and another on Nov 10 – at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. These are expected to be attended by sports personalities, local and foreign dignitaries and business associates.
Ten of his fans will also stand a chance to win an invitation to the wedding dinner by staying up to date with Lee’s Facebook fan page (“Lee Chong Wei Official Fans Club”).
“We will post a question as a status update,” said Chong Hoon. “The 10 best answers will win the invite.”
THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT IS HERE! RAIN OR SHINE: FREE ICE-CREAM FOR ALL! In honour of our athletes for their determination and passion, Impian Emas Negara Media Prima Berhad & Baskin-Robbins Malaysia wants to reward all Malaysians with FREE Baskin-Robbins ice-cream!
It’s time to come together as ONE and taste the sweet success! Wednesday, 8 August 2012 from 8.00pm till 10.00 p.m at all 61 Baskin-Robbins outlets nationwide (excluding two kiosks at Pantai Hospital, Bangsar and Genting Theme Park)
Go queue up early to avoid disappointment!
Free Baskin Robbins Ice Cream for Msians Today
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia may not have secured any gold medals yet at the London 2012 Olympics. But Media Prima Berhad and Baskin Robbins have decided that a little cheer is needed to lift the spirits, which will come in the form of free ice cream for all Malaysians.
The initiative, dubbed Impian Emas Negara, will see free ice cream distributed to Malaysians at all 61 Baskin Robbins outlets nationwide (excluding two kiosks at Pantai Hospital, Bangsar and Genting Theme Park).
Malaysians can redeem their ice cream from 8pm till 10pm today. Early birds will also be given exclusive vouchers offering exclusive deals.
Each person is entitled to a single scoop and can choose from any of the chain’s famous 31 flavours.
Initially, the campaign, launched in May, had pledged to only provide free ice cream if a Malaysian athlete clinched an Olympic gold medal.
However, Ahmad Izham Omar, chief operating officer, TV networks and chief executive officer of Primeworls Studios, Media Prima Berhad, said the companies were touched by the deep level of commitment showed by Malaysian athletes at the Games.
“It was such an amazing experience for us Malaysians to witness our athletes compete superbly in the world’s most prestigious sports event.
“We felt, after seeing their high-level display of commitment and sportsmanship, that there is no reason for us to not go ahead with the free ice-cream giveaway for all Malaysians. We should all celebrate our heroes who have helped the country achieve international glory and in the process, united us all,” said Izham.
Echoing Izham’s sentiment, Cheah See Yeong, president of Golden Scoop Sdn Bhd, Baskin Robbins’ partner in Malaysia, said the company looked forward to welcoming Malaysians to its outlets today.
“We invite all Malaysians to come celebrate the nation’s pride at all Baskin-Robbins outlets nationwide today. Not only that, early birds who turn up at our event will also be given exclusive vouchers offering the sweetest deals.
“Customers may choose from any of our 31 flavours available in stores. I think the best picks that symbolise this significant event are our Gold Medal Ribbon and World Class Chocolate,” quipped Cheah.
Cheah believed this was also a great way to thank Malaysians who had made a difference through their relentless support for the Malaysian contingent.
Malaysians had thrown their support behind its athletes at the Olympic Games, with support reaching fever pitch level as badminton star Datuk Lee Chong Wei took on China’s Lin Dan in an epic men’s singles final on Sunday.
Chong Wei’s gallant battle, after returning from injury and stretching the Chinese world champion to three sets, captured the hearts of Malaysians who were touched by his emotional display after losing the final.
Chong Wei returned to home soil yesterday to a hero’s welcome at the KL International Airport, where scores of fans greeted his arrival with cheers .
This morning, national sprint cyclist Mohd Azizulhasni Awang made it to the final of the keirin event, but finished sixth.
The 24-year-old, fondly known as the Pocket Rocketman, went toe to toe with the top riders but was eventually beaten in the sprint to the finish line. The gold was won by Chris Hoy of Great Britain.
Baskin Robbins: Free Ice-Cream Deal Still on Despite Chong Wei’s Loss
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Lee Chong Wei may have lost the Olympic men’s badminton final, but the Malaysian public’s dream of scoring free ice-cream is still alive.
Baskin Robbins has clarified that its “free ice-cream for all Malaysians” pledge was not only limited to whether Chong Wei grabs the gold medal in badminton.
A Baskin Robbins’ spokesman said people had assumed that the freebie was being offered only if the national shuttler bagged the gold medal.
“The message sent out was that, if any Malaysian athlete were to return from the Olympics with a gold medal, then we (Baskin Robbins) will be giving out Baskin Robbins ice-cream to Malaysians nationwide,” said a company representative.
“The ice-cream will be distributed on August 8. Lee Chong Wei may not have brought back Malaysia’s first-ever Olympics gold medal but we still have high hopes for the remaining Malaysian athletes and this is just one way of showing our support,” she said.
To celebrate Malaysia’s first Olympics gold medal and to cheer on the Olympics’ heroes, Baskin Robbins had collaborated with Media Prima Bhd’s “Dream of Gold” initiative by pledging to treat Malaysians nationwide with free ice-cream.
Every Malaysian is entitled to one scoop of the ice-cream that would be available on August 8 from 8pm til 10pm at 61 participating Baskin Robbins outlets, excluding kiosks at Pantai Hospital in Bangsar and the Genting Theme Park.
This will also be the first time Baskin Robbins is initiating a mass ice-cream giveaway in Malaysia to commemorate a potentially historic moment of winning a gold medal for Malaysia.
The ice cream pledge by Baskin Robbins and Media Prima had grabbed the attention of Malaysians, with many taking to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to express their views on the subject.
Many had jokingly lamented Chong Wei’s loss as a “missed opportunity” for free ice-cream, while others had stressed that a gold medal for by any athlete is the biggest reward any Malaysian could wish for.
The nation’s Olympic hopes are kept alive in the form of divers such as Pandelela Rinong, Bryan Lomas, Yeoh Ken Nee, Traisy Vivien Tukiet; open water swimmer Heidi Gan; as well as cyclists Azizulhasni Awang.
Azizulhasni is tipped to be Malaysia’s next best bet for a medal in his pet event, the keirin.
Pandelela is expected to face a tough fight from the established Chinese divers.
Meanwhile, Baskin Robbins’ bold move had also sparked a response from other corporate players. Nando’s had posted a poster on their Facebook page in support of Chong Wei’s brave performance in the men’s final.
“We don’t accept your apology, Datuk Lee Chong Wei. Because you did bring Malaysians a golden moment,” Nando’s proclaimed on their Facebook page.
Malaysians immediately embraced the concept, with many offering messages of support for Chong Wei on the restaurant’s FB wall. Some however, joked that perhaps Nando’s should offer free flame-grilled chicken at their restaurant as well.
Despite Datuk Lee Chong Wei getting Silver Medal in London 2012 Olympic, all the Malaysian and fans all over the world still very proud of him and supporting him!
Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar @ SS2 outlet, still giving out free meal plus a cordial drink.
It was not just a free meal enjoyed by the thousands Chong Wei‘s supporter who flocked to Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar @ SS2 but a way to celebrate national shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei‘s superb performance at the London 2012 Olympics during the Badminton Finals against Lin Dan!
Are you one of the supporter who queued up at Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar?
PETALING JAYA: A free meal is still on the menu at Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar for Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s success in clinching a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics badminton tournament.
Restaurateur Burhan Mohamed said he was still providing the free meal from 7pm to 10pm today at its SS2 outlet here because Chong Wei had made Malaysia proud.
“He is still our hero. He is still our champion,” said the managing director of the restaurant chain yesterday.
“There is no shame in getting an Olympic silver. He has done his best. I am going ahead with the free meal for my customers as a mark of respect and admiration for Lee Chong Wei.”
Customers would be treated to a set meal plus a cordial drink.
Earlier, the restaurant pledged to give free dinner to patrons at its outlet here if Chong Wei won the gold medal.
Burhan added that he felt that all Malaysians shared the same sentiment as he did.
Fans celebrate Chong Wei’s grit with free nasi kandar meal
PETALING JAYA: It was not just a free meal enjoyed by the thousands who flocked to Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar but a way to celebrate national shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei‘s brilliant performance at the London 2012 Olympics.
The delicious dinner set, promised by owner Burhan Mohamed, was a smash hit with people queuing up around the block for the steaming nasi briyani, ayam rendang, egg and an orange cordial drink.
Burhan said he had prepared dinner for 5,000 people.
“I think Chong Wei really did his best and he is still our hero,” he said, adding that all his outlets were packed as customers watched the match on Sunday night.
Worth the wait: People waiting patiently to have dinner at the Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar outlet in SS2, Petaling Jaya.
Lee had lost the fight for the Olympics gold medal against China’s Lin Dan.
Although Burhan had announced last week that he would host a free dinner for fans if Lee bagged the gold, he changed his mind after being wowed by Lee’s gritty performance despite suffering an ankle injury in May.
One of those who enjoyed the complimentary meal yesterday was Wan Nurfatin Megat. The 23-year-old said she had sent numerous encouraging Twitter messages to Lee.
“I told him that he had done his best, not to be sad and that we are really proud of him. He is number one to us,” she said, praising Burhan for his decision to celebrate Lee’s silver win with the free dinner.
Choo Jian Tatt, 18, said Lee was “amazing” because despite having to take painkillers for his injury, he had still performed well.
“For a guy who is not 100% fit, to be able to go against Super Dan‘ (Lin Dan’s nickname) like that, it was amazing,” said the fan.
S. Thiru, 43, said it was an even match, adding that Lee had played “a very good game”.
“And to bring all Malaysians together for the game, that is very good,” he said.
Earlier in Kuala Lumpur, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai commended Lee on his performance.
“He is a hero to Malaysians as he has brought the country to a higher level and we are very proud of him,” he said after launching the “Promise Me 2012” campaign by the Truly Loving Company Sdn Bhd here yesterday.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Beijing Olympics silver medallist, 2011 World Championships runner-up, 2010 Asian Games runner-up, All-England champion twice, Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
LIN DAN 林丹
D.O.B: Oct 14, 1983
HOMETOWN: Longyan, Fujian
WORLD RANKING: 1
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Beijing Olympics gold medallist, four-time world champion, Asian Games gold medallist (individual once and team twice), Thomas Cup (five times), Sudirman Cup (four times), All-England (five times).
Dato Lee Chong Wei 拿督李宗偉 lost to Lin Dan 林丹 yet again @ London 2012 Olympic after 4 years from Beijing 2002 Olympic.
This time he was well prepared and showed better skill and fighting spirit but yet it’s so close to get the 1st ever gold for Malaysia in Olympic.
We know you tried your best and we are proud of you! You are our hero!
Went to a LIVE SCREENING PARTY organized by Samsung to watch the Olympics Badminton Finals (Dato Lee Chong Wei 拿督李宗偉 vs Lin Dan 林丹) @ Laundry Bar, The Curve.
It’s so happening and all the crowd shouting and supporting Dato Lee Chong Wei. It’s a different way of watching Live Badminton match. The environment was so good and all the crowd cheering for Dato Lee when he scored against Lin Dan! It’s way better than watching it alone at home. You will feel as if you were physically there supporting Lee Chong Wei.
I’m supporting Malaysia! Supporting Lee Chong Wei! #teammalaysia
We are a little disappointed because it’s just a few points again to get the Gold! Even you couldn’t get gold, all the Malaysian still supporting you and please don’t put the blame on yourself.
In celebration of Dato’ Lee Chong Wei’s inspiring sportsmanship, “Samsung Malaysia Electronics” announced that it will be offering a 10% discount for the Samsung GALAXY S III on Wednesday, August 8.
The one-day promotion is limited to one unit purchase of Samsung GALAXY S III per customer and is only available at 35 Samsung Elite Partner (SEP) brand shops nationwide. For location details of Samsung Elite Partner (SEP) brand shops, please visit www.samsung.com/my
No holiday, if want holiday go apply leave but there’s holiday for Selangor ppl! No Free Baskin Robbins Ice Cream. Go buy yourself k! Stop complaining!
We may hv lost but Malaysia & LCW can hold our heads up high. Congrats on the silver medal Dato. U did us proud!
Thank you very much, Lee Chong Wei, Thank you for being such a noble and worthy opponent, and thank you for 10 years of companionship — without Lee Chong Wei’s worthiness, there will not be any Lin Dan’s worthiness; without Lee Chong Wei’s persistence and perseverance, there will not be any progression for Lin Dan. Lee Chong Wei missed his first Gold Medal, but he didn’t fail. We felt for his cries.
Now you should look forward to your weeding with our badminton legend Wong Mew Choo 黃妙珠! Congrats and happy marriage!
Gallant Chong Wei forced to settle for silver by Lin Dan
LONDON: Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s Olympics gold medal hopes have once again been dashed by China’s Lin Dan.
The Malaysian ace put up a brave fight but lost 21-15, 10-21, 19-21 to his arch nemesis in the men’s singles badminton final of the London Olympics at the Wembley Arena here on Sunday.
The first set was a close contest with neither player being able to pull ahead, with the score at 3-2, 5-5, and 9-8 before Chong Wei went into the first set breather 11-8 ahead.
The Malaysian then led 13-10, 16-11, and pulled ahead 19-13. Lin Dan, however, was not about to give in. He narrowed the score to 19-15 before Chong Wei sealed the set 21-15 in 26 minutes.
Chong Wei, however, was always on the back foot in the second set. Lin Dan was 11-7 ahead half way through the set before racing ahead 17-8 and 19-10 before winning 21-10 in 20 minutes to force the rubber.
The decider was a nail-biting affair. Both players gave it their all and the score line showed how evenly matched they were. Both were tied at 3-3, 5-5, 8-8 and 9-9 before Lin Dan went ahead 11-9 after 14 minutes.
It was again very close after that with Chong Wei clawing back to lead at 14-13 before Lin Dan drew level at 15-15.
Chong Wei then went ahead 17-16 and 19-18 before the Chinese ace drew level at 19-19. But this was as far as the Malaysian would go as Lin Dan sealed victory at 21-19 in 28 minutes.
This is the second time Chong Wei has lost to Lin Dan in the clash for the Olympics gold medal. In the men’s singles final in the 2008 Beijing Games, Chong Wei lost 12-21, 8-21 to the Chinese ace.
Chong Wei said he had tried his best against Lin Dan. “I tried really hard and to come this far after two and half months of lay-off is good. I was better than when I played in Beijing or the World Championships. But it seems that I am destined to play bridesmaid again. “I am sorry for not getting the gold for Malaysia,” he said. Lin Dan said that it was a lot harder winning this time around. “A lot of sacrifice and work has gone in the last four years. And today I have achieved it. Chong Wei is a worthy opponent and I have a lot of respect for him,” he added.
PETALING JAYA: Social networks are buzzing ahead of the showdown between Datuk Lee Chong Wei and China’s Lin Dan today.
The term Don’t Let China Win’ and #DLCW, originally meant to be a play on Chong Wei’s initials by his fans for the final went viral worldwide on Twitter trends last Friday.
“Remember Datuk Lee Chong Wei. DLCW = Don’t let China Win. Go LCW!” tweeted @andytelasai. But the term caught on with some international netizens who used the DLCW abbreviation in tweets to egg on their own countries, perhaps not even knowing about the Malaysian shuttler who inspired the term.
One Californian tweeter @ericdetrin11 posted, “C’mon USA! Don’t let China win #DLCW”.
Malaysians took to other social networking sites to express their excitement and hope that Lee will bring home the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. User “Technically Nazz” even compared Lee to superhero Batman in the movie The Dark Knight Rises, tweeting “Lee Chong Wei vs Lin Dan is going to be like Batman vs Bane.
“Lee Chong Wei Rises this Sunday! Join the army.”
Felicia Hung said she hoped that defending champion Lin Dan would lose so she could get free ice cream.
“Please kalah (lose) Lin Dan? I want free Baskin Robbins,” she said.
Golden Scoop Sdn Bhd, Baskin-Robbins’ Malaysian partner, had announced that Malaysians would get a free scoop of ice cream at all its 61 outlets nationwide under Media Prima Bhd’s “Impian Emas Negara” initiative, should Malaysia win a gold medal during the Games.
A businessman even posted on a Facebook fanpage dedicated to Lee, offering to sponsor his “pre-wedding and wedding photography”.
While some fans were confident that Lee would bag the gold, others were just happy that he had made it into the finals.
Szi Yong Chong said Lee did not even need to win as he was already a “hero”, while Geow Linda said:”Gold or Silver, it doesn’t matter. Do your very best (and) show the world you are the BEST!”
Another user urged Lee to think of the various rewards he would gain if he won the match.
“Come on Chong Wei, think of the gold bars,” said user Tunku Acet Wa, referring to the 12.5kg gold bar worth RM2mil offered by gold mine owner and KL Racquet Club Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Andrew Kam.
Malaysia Boleh! Datuk Lee Chong Wei Boleh! Lee Chong Wei played very well and this was the best game so far. Keep attacking and not giving opponent a chance to fight back against Chen Long.
He gained his entry to London Olympics 2012 Badminton Finals this coming Sunday at 8pm Malaysia time.
London Olympics 2012 – Lee Chong Wei vs Lin Dan in Finals!
Winning kiss from Datuk Lee Chong Wei! Bravo!
Ooh yes! Lee Chong Wei beat Chen Long 21-13,21-14 into final vs Lin Dan! Rematch after 4 years! #Olympics2012 #TeamMalaysia #LeeChongWei #Badminton
The rewards are already in place with a government guarantee of monetary prizes and the private sector offering a gold bar to the first badminton player to win a gold medal.
I believe this is also one of the motivation for Datuk Lee Chong Wei to push himself and put 100% effort in every games. Besides that, he’s getting married next year and this Olympics will be his last game before retiring.
Kuala Lumpur Rackets Club (KLRC) chief Datuk Seri Andrew Kam said he would be presenting a 12.5kg gold bar worth over RM2 million to gold medal winners, to be shared by shuttlers who won gold medals at the London Olympics.
Watch London Olympics 2012 Online Live Streaming
You could watch the reply of the match here at Youtube Olympics Official Channels. Also if you do not have Astro but want to watch live match of Lee Chong Wei vs Lin Dan live streaming of the London Olympics 2012 finals, you could watch it live here @ Youtube Olympics Official Channels as well (5th Sunday 8pm Malaysia Time).
Chong Wei meets Lin Dan in final (Update)
LONDON: Datuk Lee Chong Wei has ensured that Malaysia returns home with a medal after he stormed into the final of the men’s badminton singles with a convincing 21-13, 21-14 win over China’s Chen Long at the Wembley Arena.
He will meet China’s Lin Dan on Sunday. The top Chinese shuttler easily beat South Korea’s Lee Hyun Il 21-12, 21-10 in the other semi-final.
Chong Wei won the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when he lost in the final to Lin Dan.
Then Chong Wei was the world number one while the Chinese at number two. This time the role is reversed with the Chinese having taken over as the number one in June.
His silver in Beijing was the only medal won by Malaysia in the 2008 Games.
With the silver medal in the bag, Chong Wei said that his aim is the gold.
“I treated tonight’s match as my last and went all out. I did not want to play for the bronze.
“My performance was a surprise to me too as I was able to stay in control and the match strategy worked well.
“I want to go for the gold medal. I have nothing to lose and I do not feel there is much pressure on me. I had promised to make the final and I have delivered.
“To the Malaysians I make this promise – I will do my very best to win that gold. Nothing else matters,” he said.
Chong Wei admitted that this was his best game in London and felt that all the hard work since coming back from an ankle injury was worth it.
“I always had the thought that my Olympic dream would be dashed at any time after the injury. But it is great to be back at my best. And even then I am only 50% of my old self.
“It does not matter who I play in the final. I want to win it. Chen Long was also under pressure to stop me and that is why his game suffered a little.
“But more importantly we knew what to do and I had worked it out with my coaches,” he said.
Chong Wei was in his element in the first set as he took control of the match from the first point. He stormed to a 6-0 lead before Chen Long took a point off him.
From then on Chong Wei build on his lead and to go 11-5 and 19-10. He allowed Chen Long to take two more points off him at 19-13.
A leaping smash by Chong Wei gave him the set point. And another Chen Long blunder at the baseline gave the Malaysian first set at 21-13 in 23 minutes.
Chong Wei used his drop shot and base line to good effect and was helped by the mistakes from Chen Long
In the second set Chong Wei again started off leading and was 6-3 when the Chinese caught up with him.
Chong Wei then reeled off three points to keep his lead and soon moved to 10-7.
From then it was a game of chase as Chong Wei was forced to work hard to keep ahead of Chen Long.
Chong Wei extended his career wining record over Chen Long to 7-4 and then never looked back as he winning 28 eight minutes in 21-14.
LONDON: Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei advances to the Olympics men’s badminton finals after beating Chen Long of China.
THERE was more relief than jubilation on Lee Chong Wei’s features as he sealed a second successive final appearance in the Olympics with an emphatic 21-13, 21-14 win over China’s Chen Long at the Wembley Arena on Friday.
Cheng Long had been expected to give Chong Wei a massive test but the Malaysian, who is now one match away from becoming the first Malaysian to win Olympic gold, was just too determined for the China player.
Chong Wei and coaches Tey Seu Bock and Rashid Sidek got their tactics right and once Chong Wei took control, as had been the plan, there was to be no looking back.
“I can’t believe how well I played as I had come into the Olympics not as prepared as I would have wanted,” said Chong Wei after winning in 51minutes.
Victory was celebrated by first dropping to his knees, followed by pumped fists and then acknowledgement of the fans – the majority of who were behind Chong Wei.
“The pressure I was under was immense and I told myself that this was the final as I didn’t want to have to pysche myself up for the third-place playoff, which would have been very difficult.”
Seu Bock said Chong Wei had controlled the match exactly the way it had been planned.
“We wanted him to vary his game between fast and slow and that caught Chen Long off guard as he couldn’t cope with Chong Wei’s variations. The final is next (most probably against Lin Dan on Sunday) and Chong Wei will prepare as he did for this match, with focus and a sense of calm,” said Seu Bock.
Rashid was as vocal as Seu Bock on the sidelines and said the focus now is on getting Chong Wei to improve on his silver medal finish in Beijing 2008.
“He is a step away and we must work hard to ensure that he goes one better. I believe he can,” said Rashid, bronze medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
China – Lin Dan 林丹 is now World No. 1! Malaysia – Datuk Lee Chong Wei 李宗伟 is no longer World No. 1!
Hope Datuk Lee Chong Wei 李宗伟 able to excel in Olympic without any stress now as he’s no longer World No.1 so there’s nothing to hold back and just perform as what he could to win the 1st Olympic gold for Malaysia in August @ London Olympic 2012.
Chong Wei dethroned as world No. 1 after four years
KUALA LUMPUR: It’s over. Lee Chong Wei has finally been dethroned as the world No. 1 after four years at the pinnacle.
For Chong Wei, this is yet another setback that has plagued his preparation for the London Olympic Games next month.
In the latest ranking list released by the World Badminton Federation (BWF) yesterday, China’s Lin Dan, a four-time world champion, is back in familiar territory as the world No. 1, pushing Chong Wei to the second spot.
He slipped to second spot because of his absence in international tournaments following an injury to his ankle at the Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan recently.
He lost valuable ranking points after failing to defend his title at last week’s Indonesian Open.
The drop in the ranking, however, will not affect Chong Wei’s seeding as the top player at the Olympics as the seedings had been done earlier based on the May 3 world ranking.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei had held the No. 1 spot since Aug 21, 2008 – a week after his lopsided loss to Lin Dan in the final of the Beijing Olympic Games.
Chong Wei, still recovering from his ankle injury, is scrambling to regain his form. This has raised doubts about his chances of challenging his nemesis and defending champion Lin Dan for the gold medal at the Olympics.
Some, however, see the setbacks – injury and drop in world ranking – as a blessing in disguise, saying it would drastically reduce the pressure on him as he tries to end the country’s elusive chase for a gold medal in his third Olympic outing.
Meanwhile, there was some good news for Olympic-bound Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong when they moved up two rungs to occupy the sixth spot in the world rankings in the men’s doubles while the mixed doubles pair of Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying remained at No. 8.
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Arghhh Datuk Lee Chong Wei can’t fight for Malaysia @ Thomas Cup due to ankle injury
I hope Datuk Lee Chong Wei can recover from his injury and able to fight till the end for the upcoming 2012 London Olympic and fight against Lin Dan and re-affirm his World No. 1 Status! You can do it! Hope you will recover soon enough for the upcoming 2012 London Olympic! Whole Malaysians are giving you the moral support!
Chong Wei’s injury is not that serious, says Dr Ramlan
THOMAS CUP FINALS
Wuhan, China (May 20-27)
SEPANG: National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz believes world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei’s ankle injury may not be as serious as it seems.
He, however, admitted that they will have to conduct further scans to be sure.
Chong Wei injured his ankle on Tuesday four minutes into his Thomas Cup tie against Denmark’s Peter-Gade Christensen, forcing him to withdraw from the tournament.
It still hurts: Lee Chong Wei at KLIA on his return from Wuhan Wednesday. — M. Azhar Arif/The Star.
“I’ve received the MRI scan which Chong Wei did in China and it will take a day or two to study it before we know how severe his injury is,” said Dr Ramlan.
“We’ll also need to do further scans to get a clearer picture of the injury and give him the proper treatment.
“Hopefully, there will be no need for surgery.
“All I can say now is that it’s correct that he’ll probably need to rest for three to four weeks.”
Chong Wei arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.45pm yesterday and struggled to hold back his emotions once again as he fielded questions by the media.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Chong Wei will need a miracle to recover from his injury and be fit in time for the London Olympics in July.
“We’re all very sad that Chong Wei has suffered an injury that will hamper his Olympic preparation,” said Shabery.
“We don’t know how long he’ll need to recover and it’ll probably be a miracle if he does make it in time.
“He’ll have the best treatment possible and, most importantly, there is no pressure on him to recover fast.”
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei is back home, promising to bounce back stronger after his injury setback.
Yesterday, Chong Wei was still raw with emotion and continued to shed tears over the torn tendon in his right ankle, which has put his long-cherished dream of Olympic glory in jeopardy.
When Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh told him not to lose heart despite the enforced layoff which will shorten his preparations for the London Games, tears rolled down Chong Wei’s cheek.
His sole focus over the last four years has been on winning the elusive gold at the Olympics.
When he regained his composure, Chong Wei said he would emerge stronger from this painful experience.
Painful experience: Chong Wei looking at an X-ray image of his torn tendon.
“It’s still quite painful,” said Chong Wei, pointing to his strapped ankle while seated in a wheelchair.
“I’m really sad that I couldn’t help the team against Denmark,” he said.
Malaysia lost 2-3 after Chong Wei limped off in the first singles.
“One has to be mentally stronger when experiencing an injury like this. I know that I will have to come out of this stronger mentally as I may lose several weeks of training,” he said.
On the gravity of his injury, Chong Wei said: “I will be meeting Dr Ramlan Aziz (director-general of the National Sports Insitute) and he will look at it again.”
Chong Wei will have another Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) screening soon.
The first MRI at a hospital in Wuhan on Tuesday showed a tendon tear that would take three to four weeks to heal.
Coach Tey Seu Bock has already laid out a plan to get Chong Wei back on his feet before the London Games.
“We will wait for Dr Ramlan’s assessment on Chong Wei’s condition. We will give him enough rest. We will start training once he can walk without putting any pressure on his injured ankle,” he said.
“We will begin with upper body exercises, but rather than focusing too much on his physical condition, I will pay more attention to reviving his confidence.
“It isn’t easy for an athlete to be back quickly after such an injury. It takes a strong mind and heart. I hope to have a good six weeks with Chong Wei before the Olympics. I think that will be enough to bring him back as a strong contender at the Games.
“I’m confident that Chong Wei’s dedication and determination will see him through,” he added.
The Olympic badminton competition will begin on July 28.
Chong Wei out for three to four weeks after ankle injury
WORLD No. 1 Lee Chong Wei’s Olympic dream suffered a severe blow when he tore a tendon on his ankle during a Thomas Cup Group C tie against Denmark at the Wuhan Sports Gymnasium Centre yesterday.
The pain was excruciating and the shuttler wept unabashedly.
But it was the “pain” of not being able to help his Thomas Cup team-mates – and the possibility of not being at his best for the Olympics – that proved even more intolerable.
The 29-year-old is now expected to be out for three to four weeks, thus affecting his preparations for the London Games, which will be held from July 27-Aug 12.
Woe in Wuhan: Chong Wei grimacing in pain as a tournament medical officer attends to his injured ankle during Malaysia’s Thomas Cup Group C tie against Denmark at the Wuhan Sports Centre yesterday.
Chong Wei, the Beijing Olympics silver medallist, is seen as the strongest rival for defending champion Lin Dan of China.
In the group tie of the Finals, Chong Wei began as the heavy favourite against veteran Peter-Gade Christensen in the first singles event.
But, just four minutes into the game, Chong Wei screamed in pain after landing awkwardly while retrieving a shot at the baseline. The Malaysian clutched his right ankle and grimaced in pain.
The medical team rushed to help, after quite some time, but it was in vain. Chong Wei later got up, limped over towards Christensen, shook hands with the Dane and called it quits.
About an hour later, Chong Wei was later taken to a hospital, accompanied by coach Tey Seu Bock.
The injured Chong Wei being wheeled out and later taken to hospital.
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was done and it confirmed that Chong Wei has suffered a tear on his tendon.
“The doctor said that it would take three to four weeks for the injury to heal. We are making arrangements to send Chong Wei home,” said Seu Bock.
“We will conduct another MRI back home and get a second opinion on the seriousness of his injury.”
Seu Bock, however, was glad that the injury is not as bad as the one suffered by former international Wong Choong Hann at the 2006 Thomas Cup Finals.
Choong Hann was then the team skipper when he ruptured his Achilles heel during the second singles match against Park Sung-hwan in a quarter-final tie against South Korea. The injury ruled Choong Hann out for six months.
“When I saw Chong Wei on the floor, I immediately thought about Choong Hann. I was there when Choong Hann got hurt. The first thing I checked was to see whether Chong Wei could move his toes. I was relieved when he could,” he said.
Then, Malaysia went on to beat South Korea to reach the semi-finals.
But yesterday, Chong Wei’s defeat saw Malaysia losing 2-3 to Denmark.
Horror show: Koo Kien Keat covers his face after making a mistake as Goh V Shem looks on during their second doubles match against Denmark’s Jonas Rasmussen-Joachim Fisher.
Seu Bock said that Chong Wei was very sad and down-hearted and kept asking why it had happened to him during his short stay at the hospital.
“He felt bad that he could not contribute a point for the team. He was also worried about the Olympic Games and wondered why it had happened so close to the Games. He is emotionally down,” he said.
“All he needs right now is some good rest and a time to recover from this setback. We still have time before the Olympic Games and we can help him to regain his confidence.”
Thomas Cup Results – Malaysia vs Denmark
THOMAS CUP
Group A: China bt Indonesia 5-0
Group B: Japan bt Russia 5-0
Group C: Denmark bt Malaysia 3-2 (Peter-Gade Christensen bt Lee Chong Wei 1-2 rtd; Carsten Mogensen-Mathias Boe bt Tan Boon Heong-Hoon Thien How 21-17, 21-23, 21-11; Jan O Jorgensen lost to Liew Daren 15-21, 13-21; Jonas Rasmussen-Joachim Fischer Nielsen bt Koo Kien Keat-Goh V Shem 21-18, 21-15; Hans-Kristian Vittinghus bt Mohd Hafiz Hashim 21-17, 17-21, 19-21).
Malaysia’s Datuk Lee Chong Wei 李宗伟 beats China’s Lin Dan 林丹 12-21, 21-18, and 21-14 at the Korea Open Super Series badminton championships in Seoul, South Korea yesterday to win his first title of the year. Finally!
OMG did you notice Lin Dan hair style?! So damn “Leong” lor… Haha… Would all the China men follow his hairstyle now? You wanna cut such hair style boh? Haha.
No matter where Lee Chong Wei place the shutter Lin Dan will be there before the shutter even reach the court. Reading his mind well! Lin Dan made Datuk Lee Chong Wei run like a dog yet Chong Wei still can’t return the cock well. Mistake & unforced error keep on happening.
On the other hand, the 2nd and rubber set, Datuk Lee Chong re-bounced! I thought macam Lin Dan “fong sui” one leh? Or they already discussed letting who win & how many games to play? Arggh. If it’s real I did happy for #LCW, but I think it’s not and it’s the mindset that make Chong Wei bounced back and defeat Lin Dan! Good Job! Malaysia Boleh!
See how Datuk Lee make money? It’s only 1st 8 days of the year and he made USD75k = ~MYR225k! How to make such amount of money!
Datuk Lee Chong Wei 李宗伟 is still World Number 1 & above Lin Dan 林丹!
Chong Wei downs Lin Dan to reaffirm his Olympic intentions
PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei stamped his credentials as a potential candidate to win Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal with a scintillating victory over nemesis Lin Dan in the Korea Open yesterday.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei overcame a listless start to carve out a 12-21, 21-18, 21-14 win over four-time world champion Lin Dan of China in a physically taxing one-hour and 15-minute men’s singles final at the US$1mil tournament in Seoul.
The brilliant start to the year earned him a cool US$75,000 (RM235,875) ang pow for the upcoming Chinese New Year.
And there could be more when he goes after his eighth home title at the US$400,000 Maybank Malaysia Open, which begins on Wednesday at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
A rivalry unmatched: Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan on the podium after their Korean Open men’s singles final yesterday. Chong Wei won 12-21, 21-18, 21-14. — AFP
It was his second Korean Open title after having won it in 2010 and his ninth career win over Lin Dan in 27 clashes.
Yesterday’s win erased fears that Chong Wei will always be in the shadow of the Chinese star – especially after losing in the World Championships, China and Hong Kong Opens last year.
The most painful defeat came at the world meet when Chong Wei lost despite leading 20-18 in the decider in the final.
Yesterday, Chong Wei’s display showed that he has got over the disappointments.
“It is a new year and I wanted a fresh start. It is great to start the Olympic year with a title by beating my close rival Lin Dan. This is a positive sign for me ahead of the Olympic Games,” said Chong Wei in a telephone interview.
“The win is a confidence booster for me. It was a physically draining match but it was really worth it.”
It was not all that smooth sailing for Chong Wei when the opening game saw the best and also worst of him. He was doing fine – playing well at the net and taking time to open up the game – until 6-6 and then he lost the plot to allow Lin Dan to pull away for an easy 21-12 win. Not many would have put their money on Chong Wei to recover from the lopsided opening game setback but he did. He took all that was thrown at him and then executed some exquisite moves at 18-18 to romp home for victory in the second game.
Chong Wei continued to show more urgency and aggression in the decider to outfox Lin Dan and at one point, the latter was left shaking his head in disbelief over the Malaysian’s deception.
And to top his misery, Lin Dan’s game was littered with uncharacteristic mistakes and it saw the Chinese finally giving up the fight and the Korean Open crown to Chong Wei.
“The first game against Lin Dan did not go as I planned but I kept chanting in my heart that I could pull through if I stayed focused. The win in the second game gave me all the confidence that I needed to go all the way.”
“This is a great start for me and from now it is important that I keep the momentum going and stay injury-free.
“I will return home tomorrow (today) and focus on the Malaysia Open. I do not want to disappoint my fans and I will go all out to keep my unbeaten run intact on home soil.”
Both his coaches – Tey Seu Bock and Rashid Sidek – who were with him in Seoul, were delighted.
Said Rashid: “It is rare to see Lin Dan losing his focus but today he did. And this is all due to Chong Wei’s superb comeback. He did well to change and vary his game to make Lin Dan very uncomfortable today.”
Said Seu Bock: “Credit should be given to Chong Wei for the hard work he put in today. This win will be a big boost to his morale. Of course, Lin Dan and his other team-mates will come back stronger at the Malaysia Open but if there is one place where it is difficult to beat Chong Wei, it is on his home ground.
“Physically, both players have been pushed to the limit but I am confident that Chong Wei will recover in time.”
Lee Chong Wei 李宗伟 still cannot beat Lin Dan 林丹 in yesterday match but I strongly believe that in the next meet or till next year Olympic Datuk Lee Chong Wei will surely beat Lin Dan! So far Lin Dan is still stronger than Chong Wei not in terms of skill but just that Datuk Lee fear of him mentally? Hmm…
China’s superstar Lin Dan 林丹 shattered Chong Wei’s 李宗伟 dream of becoming Malaysia’s first world champion in 1 hour 22 mins men’s singles final.
Lee Chong Wei 李宗伟 lost to Lin Dan 林丹 in Badminton World Championships but it’s a close fight I must agree! Every badminton fans will surely enjoyed the game and the way the fight till the last point.
1st Game 20-22 : Won by Lee Chong Wei 李宗伟
2nd Game 21-14 : Won by Lin Dan 林丹
3rd Game 23-21 : Won by Lin Dan 林丹
Datuk Lee, you can do it! I still want to see some stunning act from you and beat Lin Dan pls!
CHINA’s Lin Dan took of his shirt to reveal his rippling musles before running around the court in sheer joy.
After lying low throughout this week, he was in the mood for celebration – especially after beating world number one Lee Chong Wei 20-22, 21-14, 23-21 in remarkable fashion.
The sensational come-from-behind win – especially after trailing 12-16 and 18-20 in the decider – saw Lin Dan winning his fourth world title, a first by a player in the world series. It was his 17th win over Chong Wei over 24 matches since they first crossed swords in 2004. It was also Lin Dan’s second win over Chong Wei this year after the victory at the US$1.2 mil South Korea Open final in Seoul.
And when asked about his victory, Lin Dan said that he wanted to quickly end the game because he did not have much time to go sight-seeing in London and had wanted to buy gifts for his wife Xie Xingfang.
The greatest: China’s Lin Dan celebrating after defeating Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei in the men’s singles final yesterday.
“The match was going too long and I wanted to just win it. Fortunately, I did not make as many mistakes as Chong Wei did towards the end,” said Lin Dan.
“This is my first visit to London and I have not had time to do some sight seeing. I want to buy clothes for my wife,” he said in a packed press conference, which drew laughter.
When asked about the way he celebrated the win yesterday, he said: “Yes, I was a bit emotional. Chong Wei played well and I have to work hard to get back into the game after the first game defeat.”
“I am glad that we (Chong Wei and I) were able to give the fans a great badminton show. I saw a lot of quality matches from men’s singles players in this world meet.
“I am a badminton ambassador and it is my responsibility to maintain the interest of the the badminton fans,” said the 28-year-old Lin Dan. When asked about his Olympic Games preparation, he said: “This win here has put me in the right track for my Olympic Games preparations for next year at the same venue. I am happy and pleased with everything that has taken place here,” he added.
IT was a magical moment at the Wembley Arena yesterday but it did not belong to Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei.
Yesterday, China’s superstar Lin Dan shattered Chong Wei’s dream of becoming Malaysia’s first world champion when he came from behind twice in the decider to troop home with a sensational 20-22, 21-14, 23-21 win in an adrenaline-pumping, one-hour-and-22 minute men’s singles final.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei had held the upper hand at 16-12 and 20-18 in the decider in the dream final of the World Championships between the two greatest men’s singles players but luck deserted him at the crucial state.
And to add misery to his agonising defeat, Chong Wei, who put up a sombre face during the victory ceremony, rushed out with cramps on both his legs and was lying in a corner with tears in his eyes.
It was truly a sad end for Chong Wei, who had been so convincing and confident in his play throughout the week, sparking a great hope for Malaysia to produce a first winner since the tournament’s inception in 1977.
Dejected: Lee Chong Wei making a call back stage after his loss to Lin Dan in the final.
On Saturday, he had reached his first final in his sixth attempt in the world meet to become only the second Malaysian after Wong Choong Hann to do so.
After a good rub-down, Chong Wei said that he was disappointed with the outcome but vowed to move forward – with his focus on next year’s Olympic Games.
“I had two chances to end the game but it did not happen for me … Lin Dan took a great gamble at the crucial stage and I was quite unlucky,” said Chong Wei.
“I gave my all. This is my best and closest match against Lin Dan. It hurts to lose by two points in this manner.
“I may have lost to him but I showed that nothing much separates us. I made some mistakes today but I will be ready for him the next time.
“I am still happy with my achievement of reaching my first final here. It has been a good season. I have reached every final since the start of this year.
“I will shift my attention to the Olympic Games. It is 11 months away and I want to better prepared.
And he gave the Malaysian fans some good news: “I may have lost the opportunity to become the country’s first champion but I am coming back. I will be back in 2013 to get it right,” added Chong Wei, who left for home yesterday.
It started with three quick easy points for Chong Wei following Lin Dan’s unusual poor service return shots.
Then, the real battle began with Chong Wei and Lin Dan trying to outfox each other with their blistering pace, punishing smashes, unbelievable netplays and incredible retrieves.
The Malaysian stayed ahead to take a 20-18 lead but Lin Dan was always dangerously snapping at his heels. Lin Dan’s brilliance at the net saw him levelling at 20-20 but a quick recovery saw the Malaysian taking the first game at 22-20.
The second game went on in the same fashion but this time, Lin Dan dictated the pace until 11-9. A brief nervy spell by a slower Chong Wei saw Lin Dan taking a 17-10 lead and eventually forcing a rubber game with a 21-14 win.
Both came back recharged and determined to outdo each other and what a fight it was.
The decider was a thriller with both displaying class and quality but it was Lin Dan who had a better finish to nick his fourth world title to emerge as the world’s greatest player.
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