I’m not a big-headed star, says world No. 1

PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 shuttler Lee Chong Wei brushed aside claims that fame and glory had gone to his head.

Yesterday, the 29-year-old, the most celebrated sportsman and one of the highest money earner in Malaysian sports, hit back at critics who made negative assumption on him.

Beijing Olympic Games silver medallist Chong Wei, who is hoping to go one step better in the coming London Games, said his decision to skip the National Sports Council (NSC) award ceremony on Tuesday, was perceived wrongly by critics.

Chong Wei was the recipient of the Sportsman of the Year award for the third time but he texted a message to NSC director general Datuk Zolkples Embong that he could not make the ceremony as he was down with fever.

His decision drew flak especially when Sportswoman of the Year Pandelela Rinong was willing to take time off from her hectic diving schedule to attend the function graced by the Agong (Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah). She was specially flown home from Moscow after her World Diving series for the ceremony and she took off again to Mexico a day later for the final leg of the series.

When asked how it had affected him as some people had branded him as big headed, Chong Wei said: “I have not grown into a big headed person. I am still sincere in my pursuit of success.”

“Well, I cannot change what people think of me. I cannot go on hitting at them so that they will change their perception. It is their right to have an opinion. I know what I have gone through as a player.

“I received RM20,000 for the award. Yes, I have received more but money is not everything to me. I have learnt to take all kind of criticism – when I was World No. 1 and when I was not a World No. 1 player. There is always pressure and I am learning to deal with it.”

Chong Wei, who is ready to put the award ceremony incident behind him, is looking forward to his immediate assignment – the India Open in New Delhi on Wednesday.

“I will be able to maintain my top seeding at the Olympic Games if I reach at least the quarter-finals. I am treating this event as a warm-up ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals and the Olympic Games,” he said.

“It is also the first tournament since my shoulder injury (at the All-England in Birmingham last month). The most important thing is not to get injured again,” added the defending champion.
Chong Wei will leave for New Delhi on Monday.



THE STAR