Source:
Sipa USA/SOPA Images
[Saba
Sports News] The 2024 Asian Badminton Team Championship has concluded.
Following Malaysia’s second-place finish in the men’s team event, renowned
player Lee Chong Wei shared his thoughts in a media interview, expressing a
sense of disillusionment with Malaysian badminton. Lee Chong Wei believes that
he has to be the one to highlight the shortcomings of Malaysian badminton and
that without action, the sport in Malaysia will continue to decline. According
to Lee Chong Wei, Malaysia’s second-tier players are not up to par. He observed
that other teams allow their top players to rest and provide opportunities for
the second-tier players to gain experience, but the Malaysian Badminton
Federation has not taken such risks. Despite Malaysia having top-quality
doubles players, they struggle to compete against second-tier lineups from
other countries when they are not adequately rested and prepared. Lee Chong Wei
suggests that discipline and determination among the players are essential for
finding a solution. He cites examples from other sports, such as tennis stars
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, as well as footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who
exemplify the discipline and determination required to reach the top.
Currently, none of the Malaysian players possess such determination.