Chong Wei eyes Japan Open
GEORGE TOWN: Malaysian badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei is looking forward to doing his best in future tournaments, after winning silver in the Rio Olympics last month.
He said he was now focusing on performing his best at the Japan Open, which begins on Sept 18.
“Let's focus on the Japan Open, I will take it one step at a time,” he told a press conference yesterday.
With him was Malaysian badminton mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying, who also won silver in Rio, and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
All three were earlier presented with cash rewards and incentives from the state during a ceremony at Komtar here.
Lee was awarded RM150,000 while Chan received RM100,000 and an incentive of RM25,000 while Goh, who is from Malacca, received a RM25,000 incentive.
The trio earlier arrived at the Penang International Airport where a large crowd greeted them enthusiastically.
Shouts of “Malaysia Boleh!” rang around the arrival hall as they made their way out.
Lee was coy when asked about his retirement plans and said he wanted to concentrate on the World Championships next year.
“I will see how my condition is after the World Championships. If my condition is good, I will continue playing.”
Chan expressed similar sentiments on his future plans, and said his aim was to do well in the World Championships.
On whether he had been named after Wong Peng Soon, the first Asian to win the All-England title in 1950 while representing Malaya then, he said: “I will have to ask my dad.”
Goh laughed off questions regarding her stint as a model, saying her first love was badminton.
“Modelling is just a hobby. I have always wanted my dad to watch me play on television so (the mixed doubles finals match in Rio) was a dream come true,” she said.