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Appetite whetted

LEE Chong Wei wants to have one last Thomas Cup hurrah in 2016 before he writes a final chapter in his colourful badminton odyssey at the Olympic Games.

Unbeaten in New Delhi, Chong Wei is determined to win the Cup after coming so close in the 3-2 defeat to Japan in the final on Sunday.

“I will compete in all major events before the 2016 Olympic Games.
“I had a good outing here but we did not win the Cup as a team.
“We did what we could.

“ I want to try for it one last time,” said Chong Wei in New Delhi yesterday.
National singles coach Rashid Sidek was disappointed with the defeat to Japan but felt his team did fine by surpassing the semi-final target.

“We tried but Japan were better than us.
“We need to work harder for the next edition.
“Our chances will be brighter if Chong Wei is still with us.

“Others have to improve their world ranking and also do better in tournaments.
“We have to accept that Japan are now the Thomas Cup champions.

“Previously, we only looked at China and Indonesia as contenders but in two years time, Japan will be the one to watch.

“It was a bonus to reach the final. Overall I am quite satisfied with the performance of the players,” said Rashid.

The former Olympian singled out Chong Wei, Chong Wei Feng and scratch pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong as the most outstanding players for Malaysia in the tournament.

V Shem and Wee Kiong were also unbeaten with five wins each while Wei Feng notched five victories from six.

Chong Wei won six, emulating his unbeaten performance from the 2010 edition in Jakarta.
Wei Feng described the defeat as bad luck as the script would have been different if he had played better.

“The turning point was when Tan Boon Heong-Hoon Thien How lost the first doubles match.
“I tried to win but I did not play well enough,” said World No 27 Wei Feng.

Team Malaysia at the prize giving ceremony of the Thomas Cup at Siri Fort Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, India on Sunday. Pic by Goh Thean Howe

By REPORTS BY AJITPAL SINGH | ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my
 Read more: Appetite whetted - Badminton - New Straits Times

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