Lee Chong Wei won the Silver Medal in Beijing Olympics,2008,He lost the final match against Lin Dan Because he was in not his original form and giving points by unforced errors.
Lin Dan said it was the best match of his life.He played like that because it was the pressure of playing in the final.Here is the interview of Lee Chong Wei.
Question by Jason Yeoh(Reporter):You created history by inspiring all the Malaysians to watch the final on TV.As you were the main contender,everyone questioned what happened to you in final?
LCW:Everyone asked why i was not in top form,the way i was during earlier rounds.I didn't play well,I admit to it and Lin Dan was hitting his top formI was very saddened by the defeat.Lin Dan said in the press conference that it was the best match of his life.
Q:What was the reason behind it?
LCW:You would normally have substantial home ground pressure,but he didn't and he played a very fast game,very energetic .I just couldn't keep up with him at all.I was nervous ,especially in such an important event.It was the gold medal we all hoped for,and i was tense thinking about it.At the airport,I didn't feel nervous.Upon arriving at the Olympics village,however,the pressure began to build.The Bejing Olympics Games was just around the corner.
On our first day of training ,I was selected for a doping test.It very strange,as doping tests are normally carried out after the tournament begins.
Q:Does it follow a random System?
LCW:They said we were randomly selected,but who knows?Doping tests are usually conducted after a match,not before.I think it's very strange that mine was done before the tournament.I lost my patience having to do the test right after my training.I had to wait for 2 hours for them to collect a sample for the test.My coach said it was common procedure in big tournament and calmed me down.
The 13 days in beijing felt like 3 months.I looked so tired during the second set as i only slept 5 hours.Probably less than that,as i always woke up in the middle of the night.I didn't sleep well and neither did I have my appetite.It was the pressure of this tournament,nobody could understand it.I think i would die earlier dealing with the pressure there.
Before the semifinals,there was men's doubles and women's singles alongside.I didn't feel pressured,as we were working to achieve our goals together.After their defeats,however,it all came to rest on my shoulder.Everyone said i looked very pale during the final.I wasn't actually sick,but probably just tired and still yet to recover from previous matches.I'm not looking for any excuses to defend my defeat.I'm not going to blame the food,the sleepless night or the injuries.The fact is,I lost,Lin Dan won.
Lin Dan was in total control through out the match.He never played as fast as that previously.I was stunned by the speed of the shuttle.I could not penetrate his defence as he was covering every corner of the court.With a shuttle speed of 300km/h,a single second above that made a huge impact.We understand our games well and whoever controls the rhythm gains the advantage.It's a similar to when i played Sony or Ronald ,I was waiting for their return because I was faster than them.
Unforced errors contributed to the first 11 points lost in the 1st set.I was too passive and failed to stabilize myself in order to return shots when i tried to change the rhythm.
Q:What did Misbun say to you after the first set?
LCW:He asked me to catch up with his rhythm,but i just couldn't,My second round started with 0-8,but i wasn't giving up,but i just couldn't find a way to take charge of the game.
Q:How were you feeling after the defeat?
LCW:It was crushing for me because i realized I'd missed a huge opportunity.I thought about it a lot when i was preparing for the victory ceremony.Everyone tried to comfort me that winning a silver was already a great achievement.When i was standing on the podium,I felt like I'd won nothing at all.I knew I'd missed a huge opportunity and therefore,I just couldn't smile.It made me so depressed.I didn't want to cry on the podium ,so i just tried to stay calm throughout.
Q:What were you thinking on your way back to the Olympic Village?
LCW:I felt horrible and asked my coach why i played so badly.My coach comforted me and said Lin Dan was hugely different today.Earning a silver Olympic medal is a great accomplishment.It's the first ever silver medal for Malaysia in Men's Singles.I was just sad that I'd missed a chance to win a gold medal.He said,maybe fate had decided that I would receive a silver medal.
Q:Did you spend the night blaming yourself?
LCW:I could hardly sleep as i felt so bad.I couldn't help but feel sad when I was packing as well.Hopefully,in the next Olympics,I will do better.Did you worry about how malaysians would react to your defeat?I was worried they would criticize how badly i played in the final.Luckly for me ,the reception at KLIA was so warm.
Q:That was the most difficult night for you?It is hard to imagine a top athlete like you being so emotional and sensitive.
LCW:Yes,the worst night ever.This surpasses both my personal achievements and my future.It's for all the efforts put into these last few years.The support and dedication I've received from my parents.I thank my parents,but i apologize for wasting their faith in me.
Q:Do you have anything to say to your supporters?
LCW:I am greatful to have had so many People supporting me through the years.Originally,I planned to retire in 2010.Now,I would like to carry on until 2012,so I can try again at the London Olympics.I hope everyone will continue to support me in my future tournaments.I will try my best to disappoint everyone again.It's not an easy task to win a gold medal.Winning the silver medal was a huge task in itself.A lot of people wanted me to win the gold.
Q:Was Misbun disappionted with your silver medal?
LCW:Misbun is the best coach I've Ever had.Not only from a training aspect ,but in my personal life too.He has always been there to lift me up when i felt low during training sessions.He completely understands me.I'm always on the top of his priority lsit,even ahead of his family sometimes.Before the Thomas Cup tournament,his wife was ill.He still came to all the training sessions at 6 a.m.He only slept 2 hours a day sometimes.Taking care of his wife whilst helping me train completely wore him out.He would insist on attending all the sessions,even he when he needed rest.He always arrives earlier than me.
When i was 19,Misbun told me "A champion is alone"All the hard work you put in is set toward your own goals.Don't worry what others think,just focus on yourself.I wasn't alone during the Olympics as he was always there beside me.Especially when i was the only one left in the quarterfinals.I was really pleased to have Mew Choo,Misbun and the sport masseur by my side.Those 13 days were a real nightmare.
Q:Is it true,due to a kidney problem ,Misbun's wife was admitted to the hospital during the Olympics?
LCW:Yes,her blood pressure went up.I was releived after winning the semi-finals.At least i had a medal for him.I was glad to share the moment with him.He didn't sleep well, and worried about his wife who was in the hospital.I assured him i would try my hardest to win the Olympics gold medal.When I lost in the final,I felt like I had let him down.His wife had been sick since the Thomas Cup Finals.Then,there was the Singapore Open.Before we departed for Singapore,His wife was re-admitted to the hospital.He refused to say back with his wife even though I told him too.He said preparing for the Olympics was the most critical time for me."Your wife should be your top priority,"I said.
But he said no.Badminton is his life.
Q:Do you have anything to say to Misbun?
LCW:There is no other coach like him.He respects badminton and the players.He is completely dedicated and responsible.I apologized to his wife last night for taking Misbun away from her.She didn't mind though ,as long as I achieved good results.I sincerly wish her a speedy recovery.
Q:How does it all started?
LCW:When I was a kid,I played basketball.instead of badminton but my father was not pleased that i played outdoor basketball.So he introduced me the game of badminton.Mr.Teh who was a local coach spotted my talent.He requested that my dad send me for training everyday.If my dad could not pick me up ,he offered to send me home.As a result,I would train daily,from noon to evening.Since then,the badminton stadium has been my second home.I was selected to join the Pulau Pinang State team when is was 12.On Monday,Wednesday and Friday,my father would send me for training on his bike.The spectators enjoyed my game as i was short,but had a lot of false moves.The training method my coach structured for me was quite effective.I began playing at 11 years and when i was 17, i joined the national team.Moren Frost selected me because i had beaten a top seeded player in a tournament.My ranking was second last in the national team.I won an internal competition 3 months later.He felt at ese to have chosen me for the team and he was very satisfied with my performance.I was really homesick as the beginning of my period with the national team.
Q:How often could you go home?
LCW:Once a year.I would wait for my parents,family members to visit me as i missed home so much.When i started to make new friends,things began looking up for me.
Q:What is the worst time of your life?
LCW:In January 2006,my training schedule was affected when i had a car accident.I could not handle long practice sessions because i injured my head.The situations got worse with the departure of my coach Li Mao.That's when my performance dropped.It took me quite a while to get used to Li's training methods.Just as we were beginning to get along he had to leave me.He taught me different tactics and how to control the rhythm of the game.
I heard plenty of unpleasant criticism about my playing.No one is to blame for that.I was still receiving support and encouragement.Many really understand the spirit of sport.I knew they called me "Jaguh Kampung"We couldn't help what others wanted to say but i sincerely hoped to prove them wrong.They stopped calling me that when i won in Denmark,Switzerland ,France and other international tournaments.
Q:What's about your relationship with Wong Mee Choo?
LCW:Our relationship actually began 8 years ago.So as to keep the media focused on our careers,we kept it away from them.We don't want others saying that our relationship makes us neglect badminton.We kept it very low profile.Our relationship starts form high school.I used to borrow things from her.she would get angry people pushed her chair.We started talking on the phone,even though she stayed just one level below mine.If i ran out of credit on my mobile phone.I would dash out to a public phone.
Q:How did you confess your love to Mew Choo?
LCW:I just texted her on my phone.
Q:What did you say in SMS?
LCW:I asked her if she wanted to be with me.However,she said she was too young then.
We were only about 17/18 years old.Her parents objected,so we couldn't be together.Her father wanted me to focus on badminton first.We still called each other very often though.
Q(media just after match):You won a silver medal,how does that feel?
LCW:I am very sad now,Even though I tried my best.Lin Dan reached his top form today.He was fast and in total control.I played too passively at the start and when I tried counter attacking ,I made mistakes.There is no excuse for that.I just didn't play well.I apologize to everyone who supported me .I will try my best at the next opportunity I get.
The interview of Lee Chong Wei Beloved Wong Mee Choo Is also Available,
Thanks
Pradeep Sheoran
