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Chong Wei Shifts Focus To World Championship

SHAH ALAM, April 23 (Bernama) -- With the controversy over the resignation of national singles chief coach Datuk Misbun Sidek abating, national badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei, the world number one men's singles player, is now shifting his focus to the World Championship in London this August.

Chong Wei, the All-England champion this year, is determined to make amends after being shown an early exit by Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat last year.

"I have three months to prime myself," he told reporters after receiving a metallic black Proton Inspira CVT 2.0 car from Proton Holdings Berhad here Saturday.

The mock key for the car was presented to him by Proton Holdings Berhad chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, who is also Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) chairman. Also present was Proton Holdings managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

Chong Wei was rewarded the car for his consistent superior performance in the sport at the local and world stages.

On Misbun, who had quit as chief coach in a huff, Chong Wei said he welcomed the decision by BAM to get the former ace train the national back up squad.

"Misbun is still with the BAM family. We are in the same "court" and I can still seek his advice," he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Nadzmi said BAM's coaching and training committee decided to get Misbun to coach the back up squad after seeking inputs from all stakeholders including Chong Wei himself.

"Developing future players is important. Chong Wei will retire one day and we want continuity of our players in the world arena," he said, adding that Misbun's new role would not be in conflict with the back squad's existing coach Hendrawan Sugianto and besides, Misbun would also get to coach his son Misbun Ramdan .

At one stage, Chong Wei had also wanted to walk out on BAM to follow Misbun, who had been his coach prior to the latter's decision to quit.

In other developments, Mohd Nadzmi also said BAM welcomed the Badminton World Federation's decision on attire of women's players whereby they have to wear skirts instead of shorts from June 1.

-- BERNAMA

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