Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan, the two greatest players in the sport, will team up in men’s doubles for an exhibition match on February 16 in Lingshui, China, to promote badminton. The pair will face Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, both Chinese world champions.
Chong Wei, the world No. 1 in singles, spoke on Monday about the match, which is held in conjunction with the opening of a new national training centre in the province. He has always faced Lin Dan across the net, but this time they will play together.
“I received an invitation from China’s chief coach Li Yongbo to take part in this exhibition match. I was surprised that he wanted me to play with Lin Dan in the doubles. I have not played doubles before, but this is a good idea to promote the game and will be good for the sport,” said the 31-year-old Chong Wei.
The match was originally set to feature Cai Yun and Chen Long, but Chen Long was unable to attend, so Fu Haifeng took his place. “There are three Chinese players and one Malaysian in this exhibition match, and it is an honour,” Chong Wei said. “I will do whatever I can to promote the sport wherever possible.”
Chong Wei also hinted that the experience could affect his future plans. “Maybe the experience of playing in an exhibition match like this will get me excited, and I may reconsider any plan I have of retiring from the sport,” he said with a smile.
Malaysia’s Training Centre Plans
Chong Wei noted that training centres are multiplying in China, while Malaysia still lacks a facility it can proudly call its own. He added that some training centres in the states are in deplorable condition.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has planned to set up a new state-of-the-art training centre for some time, but the project remains a grand scheme on paper.
Lin Dan’s Return and Rivalry
The exhibition will be Lin Dan’s first appearance in front of his fans since he beat Chong Wei in the final of the World Championships in Guangzhou last August. Lin Dan has been away from the competitive scene for six months, and he is expected to return in March.
When asked about a possible showdown at the World Championships in Copenhagen in August, Chong Wei’s face lit up. “I heard that he is coming back in March. I think it is good for the sport. I will be ready for him. I will train harder and prepare better to face him. Lin Dan is a great and strong player.”
Chong Wei will compete at the All-England from March 4 to 9 in Birmingham. Lin Dan, currently ranked world No. 104, is likely to return at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold from March 11 to 16 and the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold in Johor Baru from March 25 to 30. He may also play in two Superseries events in India and Singapore to collect quick ranking points before the qualifying period ends in May.
Indonesia Super League Commitment
Chong Wei was also pleased that his team, Musica Flypower Champion, defended its title in the Indonesia Super League (ISL) in Surabaya on Sunday. He played twice during the group ties.
“At first, I had no plans to play in ISL because I wanted to spend my first Chinese New Year with my wife (Wong Mew Choo) and my son. But the owner of the club is a good friend of mine, and after much coaxing, I relented. He told me to play for fun, but how can I play for fun?”
He resumed training on the second day of Chinese New Year to prepare for the league. “It was a small sacrifice from my side to just promote the game,” Chong Wei said.