KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s top men’s singles shuttler, Lee Chong Wei is hoping that his long-time nemesis and good friend Lin Dan can go all the way and win this year’s Malaysia Open.
In a post on his Facebook account earlier today (Thursday), the former World No 1 expressed his joy at Lin Dan’s hard fought comeback win in the first round over Taiwan’s World No 3, Chou Tien Chen in the first round yesterday (Wednesday), and he was flattered by the comments made by China’s World No 16, who referred to Chong Wei as a source of inspiration to continue playing.
“My arch-rival yet my good pal, Lin Dan had a superb win over Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen yesterday (Wednesday). After his (Lin Dan’s) win, I was flattered when he was quoted as saying, ‘Because Chong Wei hasn’t retired from the Badminton World, this has spurred me on to continue and I really hope to clash swords with him (Chong Wei) on court soon. To be able to compete with him (Chong Wei) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games shall be a dream come true’,” Chong Wei wrote on his Facebook post.
In response to Lin Dan’s comments on how he has inspired China’s two-time Olympic champion with his sheer grit and determination to push on with his long, illustrious and glittering career despite the health scare experienced last year which cast doubts over his ability to carry on playing, the three-time Olympic silver medallist commented that he is looking forward to continue with one of the sport’s greatest rivalries at next year’s Olympics, as it would be an ideal platform for them to face-off once more at the World’s biggest sporting event before they call time on their respective playing careers.
“Next year may be the fifth and final Olympic Games for me and my life’s greatest opponent. Akin to what I’ve mentioned earlier, God willing my body allows it. I hope to step on court in Tokyo as it will be a dream come true to be able to compete with him (Lin Dan) at the Olympics next year.
“It will be great to meet Lin Dan again where our battles will reach a full cycle of 20 years,” Chong Wei pointed out.
Chong Wei also took the opportunity to wish Lin Dan the best of luck for this year’s tournament, going to the extent of saying that China’s former World No 1 is the only non-Malaysian that he wants to see win the title this year, despite their well-documented, fierce rivalry on court over close to two decades.
“My friend Lin Dan, you have my best wishes for this Malaysian Open. If I were to hope for a non-Malaysian to win the men’s singles title, I hope that it’s you my friend, my greatest opponent,” wrote the World No 44 ranked Malaysian great.
Chong Wei, 36, who has won the Malaysia Open men’s singles title a record 12-times in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and last year, was supposed to have made his highly anticipated comeback at this year’s tournament which is being held at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, but he has had to put off his return upon advice from his doctor, after taking time off from the sport since July last year to recover from early stage nose cancer, also known as Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC).
In today’s (Thursday) earlier report by NSTSport, it was reported that after Lin Dan’s rallying win over Tien Chou, the evergreen China shuttler had raised some eyebrows when he commented that if he had a serious illness, he would retire, seemingly in reference to his great Malaysian rival’s health troubles endured last year which kept Chong Wei off court for nearly 10 months.
Lin Dan however did state that he will continue playing as long as Chong Wei is still around, while also pointing out that he too wants to face the Malaysian in Tokyo next year.
“Perhaps the two of us can go on and play in next year's Olympics. Since Chong Wei hasn't hung up his racquet, I might as well continue playing,” added the five-time world champion.
Lin Dan next opponent in the second round of the Malaysia Open will be Thailand’s Suppanyu Avihingsanon, who defeated Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia 21-17, 19-21, 21-15 in the first round yesterday (Wednesday).