KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei believes men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao must not only build his physical strength but also sharpen his mental resilience after his early exit from the All-England.
As a four-time champion, Chong Wei sees the All-England as a prestigious tournament with a distinct aura, setting it apart from other major events.
He pointed out that without strong mental resilience, players can easily succumb to pressure, leading to defeat.
That was the case for Jun Hao, who had meticulously prepared for his All-England debut under new coach Kenneth Jonassen, even skipping the German Open and Orleans Masters to focus on his campaign in Birmingham.
However, his high hopes came crashing down as his maiden appearance in Birmingham lasted just 41 minutes, ending in a 21-11, 21-19 loss to defending champion Jonatan Christie.
While Chong Wei acknowledged that losing to a player of Jonatan’s calibre in the first round was understandable, he emphasised that what mattered most was how Jun Hao bounces back from this setback to improve in the future.
“The All-England is a prestigious tournament, and only the world’s best players earn the right to compete here,” said Chong Wei.
“Without strong mental resilience, it will be tough to perform on this stage. In my opinion, Jun Hao has potential, but he needs to strengthen his mental toughness.
“Right now, as a lower-ranked player, he faces a tough challenge because early-round draws will pit him against top seeds.
“Losing to Jonatan, the defending champion, is still acceptable. But if he had lost to an unknown player, then it would have been more concerning.
“He (Jun Hao) cannot dwell on this defeat. Instead, he must rise above it and work on improving his weaknesses if he wants to succeed,” said Chong Wei.
Besides Jun Hao, the 2021 champion, Lee Zii Jia, also suffered an early exit after losing to Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long in the first round.
Meanwhile, Chong Wei expressed his gratitude to the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, for appointing him as one of the state’s sports ambassadors.
He will join a distinguished line-up of global sports icons, including former New Zealand rugby star Sonny Bill Williams, ex-UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and former Australian footballer Tim Cahill, to drive sports development among Johor’s youth.
Chong Wei said he would be meeting Tunku Ismail next week to further discuss his role as Johor’s sports ambassador.
“To be honest, I was shocked to be appointed as Johor’s sports icon and to be given the opportunity to contribute to the development of sports and youth in the state,” said Chong Wei.
“I am grateful for this recognition, and I see it as my chance to give back to Johor and to Malaysia.
“This is my way of repaying the country. What matters most is helping the youth, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be in sports alone,” he added.
