PETALING JAYA, March 9 — Malaysia’s hopes at the All England championships which begins today will once again lie on the shoulders of Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who has won the tournament thrice — 2010, 2011, 2014.
There will be an added incentive for the 34-year-old in what could be his last appearance at the Superseries Premier event, as victory would serve a massive confidence booster ahead of his gold medal aspirations at the Olympics in August.
The world No 2 has another target before the summer Games — to regain top spot on the world rankings.
“I’m really surprised with my progress and have come a long way. It hasn’t been easy to get back to where I am. If you had asked me nine months ago if I ever dreamt of being world No 1 again, I would probably have told you it’s not possible.
“Now I dare to dream again and I’ll try to regain the No 1 spot, hopefully before the Olympics,” said Chong Wei, whose rankings plummeted after he served a backdated eight-month doping ban before returning to competitive action in May last year.
The Penangite’s quest for a second title this year looks promising after he was handed a favourable draw in the tournament as the second seed.
Should he overcome India’s B. Sai Praneeth in the first round, an encounter with either Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus or China’s Wang Zhengming awaits, players he has a combined 19-0 head-to-head record.
The only sticky encounter the Malaysian Masters Grand Prix Gold champion would face is at the semifinals which may see him face either K.Srikanth or world No 4 Kento Momota.
The top half of the men’s singles is a much competitive affair with defending champion Chen Long, Lin Dan and Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen all vying to make it to the final.
Former All-England champion Peter Gade said Dan could be a cagey figure in the championships.
“We have still to see his best. He will come alive in a different way for the Olympics. But whether he will open up now and we see his best this week, we don’t know,” Gade told AFP.
Malaysia’s other chances for a title comes in the men’s doubles final, where Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Koo Kien Kiat-Tan Boon Heong are in action.
Both pairs have tough draws with Kien Kiat-Boon Heong meeting second seeds Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan while V Shem-Wee Kiong could face China’s Chai Biao-Hong Wei, whom they beat at the German Open last week.
Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying will also look to make up for the disappointment of a first round German Open exit, but have a tough ask against fourth seeds Ko Sung-hyun-Kim Ha-na.
