ON a day when American swimmer Michael Phelps tackles the final hurdle in his bid to become the first athlete to capture eight gold medals at a single Olympics, our own Lee Chong Wei has a chance to be immortalised in the history of Malaysian sports.
The whole nation will be looking at him tonight when he plays against on world number one Lin Dan in a bid to bring home the first-ever Olympic gold medal.
Malaysia have produced world champions in squash, bowling and wushu before. But an Olympic champion stands tall over the others and Chong Wei knows this is his chance to achieve the biggest ever glory in Malaysian sports and hand the country a perfect birthday gift for Merdeka Day.
But it almost did not happen. Chong Wei was stretched to rubber games after his semi-final opponent, Lee Hyun-il of South Korea, switched strategy before he managed to come out of the danger zone.
His killer instincts, brilliant net play and court control are the qualities that put him on top of his game and able to trade blows with the equally talented Lin Dan.
Another factor going for him is that the pressure is off him now that he has assured the country will not return home empty-handed for the third consecutive Olympics.
Chong Wei will be seeking inspiration from his impressive straight-game win over Lin Dan in the Thomas Cup semi-final tie in Jakarta in May if he is to overcome his familiar rival.
Beating Lin Dan will not be easy as he has the support of the partisan crowd but Chong Wei has vowed to fight to the death and will not let the taunts get to him.
“When I play, I will not think about anything else. I will shut out my mind from all and just focus on the court,” he said after his semi-finals win on Saturday.
The RM1mil incentive is his if he topples the two-time world champion tonight but for Chong Wei, it is not what's driving him on.
Already assured of RM300,000 (the reward for a silver medal), it is more the chance to earn his biggest career title.
“This is the first time I have reached a final of a big tournament and I hope to come out a winner,” he said.
Chong Wei has tried but failed to make the final of the All-England, Asian Games and World Championships in the past. But coach Misbun Sidek has brought back the confidence in his game and now is his chance to claim the jackpot.
One already sensed what he was thinking of when he kissed the national flag on his shirt and after he won the semi-finals match on Saturday
He wants to win it as much for himself as for the nation. And if he pulls it off, it will be one heck of a feel-good story for the country in these difficult times.
The Star
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