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Chong Wei idam 'final impian'


Lee Chong Wei bersalam dengan Rosmah Mansor pada majlis penyerahan cek oleh Iris Corporation kepada Yakeb di Putrajaya, semalam. - Utusan/Zaki Amiruddin


PUTRAJAYA - Datuk Lee Chong Wei mengakui berdepan undian sukar namun tetap berhajat untuk beraksi pada 'final impian' Kejohanan Badminton Seluruh England berdepan musuh ketat, jaguh China, Lin Dan.Impian itu didorong perasaan Chong Wei yang sudah terlalu lama menanti untuk bersemuka semula dengan Lin Dan.

Kali terakhir mereka bertarung, pada China Masters pada September lalu. Chong Wei kalah dalam separuh akhir.

Menurut Chong Wei, bukan misi membalas dendam yang diburunya jika mara ke final menentang Lin Dan, cuma dia mahu membuktikan siapa lebih handal.
''Saya memang tidak seharusnya terlalu terburu-buru dengan terus memikirkan mara ke perlawanan akhir.
''Ini kerana undian kali ini memang sukar.


''Cuma, di sudut hati saya memang saya mengimpikan untuk bertemu Lin Dan pada perlawanan akhir.
''Lagipun saya sudah lama tidak menentangnya. Saya rasa semua peminat memang menanti-nantikan pertembungan kami di Seluruh England nanti.
''Jadi, tunggu saya di final nanti,'' katanya.

Beliau menghadiri majlis meraikan penyumbang dan media yang memberi sokongan kepada Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) di sini, semalam.
Majlis tersebut dirasmikan oleh Isteri Perdana Menteri, yang juga Penaung Yakeb, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Tambah Chong Wei, jika final impian menentang Lin Dan menjadi kenyataan, dia akan menggunakan peluang itu sebaik mungkin bagi memperbaiki persepsi umum yang menganggap jaguh China itu lebih handal.
''Walaupun dia menduduki ranking No. 2 dunia, dan saya No. 1, mungkin ramai yang menganggap dia lebih bagus.'

''Saya rasa gelanggang kejohanan Seluruh England di Birmingham akan menjadi bukti siapa lebih handal,'' katanya.

Mengenai laluan ke 'final impian' kejohanan edisi ke-100 Seluruh England di Arena Tertutup Birmingham dari 9-14 Mac ini, Chong Wei berkata, dia tidak gentar berdepan mana-mana pemain termasuk lawan yang pernah mengalahkannya.

Chong Wei, yang mengidamkan kejuaraan Seluruh England pertama dalam kariernya dijangka berdepan pemain yang telah dua kali mengecewakannya pada Kejohanan Dunia, Sony Dwi Kuncoro dari Indonesia pada pusingan kedua.

''Memang Kuncoro pernah menghampakan saya pada kejohanan besar, tetapi saya sudah bersedia untuk menghadapinya kali ini.

''Begitu juga pemain-pemain handal yang lain, saya akan memberikan aksi yang terbaik di Birmingham nanti,'' katanya.

Jika layak ke suku akhir, menanti Chong Wei adalah jaguh muda Denmark, Jan O Jorgensen.

Menanti Chong Wei pada separuh akhir, sama ada Peter Hoeg Gade dari Denmark atau bekas juara Olimpik, Taufik Hidayat dari Indonesia. Chong Wei akan memulakan kempen dengan bertemu pemain India, Chetan Anand.

Mengiringi Chong Wei ke Birmingham adalah beregu Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Muhammad Hafiz Hashim dan pemain wanita Wong Mew Choo.

Utusan

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