SEPANG: “Do they think we’re in love?”
That was Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s response to the issue over a supposed “letter” sent to him by his arch-rival Lin Dan following their epic encounter at the recently-concluded Rio Olympic Games.
The “letter”, supposedly penned by the China ace, contained a tribute to the Malaysian badminton legend and detailed Lin’s admiration and respect for his rival.
The message went viral on social media, with many assuming that it was genuine. It was later revealed to be a work of fan-fiction.
Chong Wei today clarified that there was no such thing.
“No. I never got any (letter). That was a lie.
“I never wrote any (letter), and he (Lin Dan) never wrote any letter,” said the Olympic silver medallist, referring to a supposed response from him, also in the form of a letter.
Highlighting the absurdity of the claim, Chong Wei made a joke out of the claim that Lin Dan and him would send letters to one another.
“Send letters… do they think we are lovers?” he quipped, eliciting gales of laughter from the media covering a press conference on the Malaysian contingent’s return from the Rio Olympics.
The “letter” went viral on social media, when Chong Wei lost his third Olympic final after going down 18-21, 18-21 to China’s Chen Long.