World number one Lee Chong Wei aims to end his Olympic slump when he started his campaign for a gold medal in the Rio Olympics and vows to disappoint Lin Dan, who plans to retire from the sport of badminton with a third gold medal.
The 33-year old Wei who represents Malaysia will have a tall order to trying to stop Dan, who has captured the gold medal in the men’s single event in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and 2012 in London. Wei stated that he will deal with Dan when they meet and added that he does not want to get ahead of things and will take his game one match at a time.
“The draw is okay for me compared to others, but I want to take it one match at a time. I know Lin Dan is in the same half with me, but I don’t want to think until the semis yet. This is the Olympics and everyone will give his best to win. When I’m playing him, then I’ll deal with him,” Wei said.
#AWANInews Olympics: Top-ranked Lee Chong Wei under pressure for final badminton bid https://t.co/PJ5RSpHLGQ pic.twitter.com/lgfy0aq1xd
— Astro AWANI (@501Awani) August 1, 2016
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For Wei, the Rio Olympics will be his redemption as he wants to leave the past behind as he has suffered setbacks at the hands of Dan in the two previous Olympics. Wei finished with the silver both in Beijing and in London behind Dan. He hopes that the games in Rio would be good to him as he aims to break his curse on the court.
It will be an easy route for Wei, being the top seed, he just needs to score a win in the knockout rounds to earn a bye in the last eight and will most likely meet Dan in the semi final round. Wei stressed that since this will be his last Olympics stint, pressure is mounting for him to bring home the gold medal.
“I will fight in every match and, if I lose after giving my best, it’s perhaps fated,” Wei added.
Will Lee Chong Wei grab the gold medal this #RioOlympics?
— Erma (@doremifasora19) July 30, 2016
It will be a tall order to Wei as he wants to close his Olympic run with a gold medal. The two-time silver medallists want to disappoint two-time gold medallists Dan. The two stated that they are in the twilight of their badminton careers and wants to give fans of the sport a nice game.
Just saw that Lee Chong Wei is drawn in same men's singles group as Derek Wong. Causeway derby at Olympics badminton! #oneTeamSG
— Teng Kiat (@tengkiat) July 26, 2016
Photo Courtesy: Antony Stanley/Flickr
