KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- Wembley Arena, the badminton venue for the 2012 London Olympics, will not be a lucky hunting ground for any shuttler to bag the men's singles gold, said Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) honorary-secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.
Sieh said as most of the badminton tournaments in the United Kingdom were usually hosted in Birmingham, Wembley Arena with a sitting capacity for 12,500 peoples might be a neutral battleground for world number one men's singles Datuk Lee Chong Wei and his arch-nemesis Lin Dan of China.
"Yes, Lin Dan beat Chong Wei in the 2011 World Championships that was held at the Wembley Arena, in August.
"But Lin Dan needed three sets to beat the Malaysian and I hope Chong Wei can reverse the result if both of them meet in the Olympics men's singles final, next year," he told Bernama, recently.
Lin Dan tamed Chong Wei 20-22, 21-14, 23-21 during the tournament held at the Wembley Arena.
The Wembley Arena built in 1934 and renovated in 2006 is famous for international musical concerts but will be turned to be the venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics for the 2012 London Olympics.
The summer Olympics will be held around the city of London from July 27 to Aug 12, next year.
Sieh said on paper, Lin Dan had th eadvantage after winning the 2011 World Championship at the Olympic venue but as favourite, the pressure might turn againts him.
He cited the story of Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia who won the men's singles crown although the favourite during the 2004 Athens Olympics was Peter Gade from Denmark.
The Indonesian beat the Dane at the quarterfinals defeating Shon Seung-mo from South Korea 15-8, 15-7 to win the men's singles gold.
"So, I think, no one can claim that Wembley Arena will be his lucky hunting ground.
It all depends on the shuttlers strategy, physical and mental strength to win the elusive Olympic gold," he said.
Malaysia are banking on Chong Wei to win Malaysia's first ever gold medal in the Olympics.
-- BERNAMA
Sieh said as most of the badminton tournaments in the United Kingdom were usually hosted in Birmingham, Wembley Arena with a sitting capacity for 12,500 peoples might be a neutral battleground for world number one men's singles Datuk Lee Chong Wei and his arch-nemesis Lin Dan of China.
"Yes, Lin Dan beat Chong Wei in the 2011 World Championships that was held at the Wembley Arena, in August.
"But Lin Dan needed three sets to beat the Malaysian and I hope Chong Wei can reverse the result if both of them meet in the Olympics men's singles final, next year," he told Bernama, recently.
Lin Dan tamed Chong Wei 20-22, 21-14, 23-21 during the tournament held at the Wembley Arena.
The Wembley Arena built in 1934 and renovated in 2006 is famous for international musical concerts but will be turned to be the venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics for the 2012 London Olympics.
The summer Olympics will be held around the city of London from July 27 to Aug 12, next year.
Sieh said on paper, Lin Dan had th eadvantage after winning the 2011 World Championship at the Olympic venue but as favourite, the pressure might turn againts him.
He cited the story of Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia who won the men's singles crown although the favourite during the 2004 Athens Olympics was Peter Gade from Denmark.
The Indonesian beat the Dane at the quarterfinals defeating Shon Seung-mo from South Korea 15-8, 15-7 to win the men's singles gold.
"So, I think, no one can claim that Wembley Arena will be his lucky hunting ground.
It all depends on the shuttlers strategy, physical and mental strength to win the elusive Olympic gold," he said.
Malaysia are banking on Chong Wei to win Malaysia's first ever gold medal in the Olympics.
-- BERNAMA
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