Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan, the two most dominant figures in men’s singles badminton, will team up in men’s doubles for an exhibition match on Feb 16 in Lingshui, China. The match will take on Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, both former world champions.
The world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, who has always faced Lin Dan across the net, said on Monday that he looked forward to the opportunity. The match will coincide with the opening of a new national training centre in the province, and both players see it as a way to promote the sport.
A Rare Partnership
The exhibition will also mark Lin Dan’s first appearance in front of his home fans since he beat Lee Chong Wei in the final of the World Championships in Guangzhou last August.
Lee Chong Wei, 31, said he was surprised when China’s chief coach Li Yongbo invited him to play with Lin Dan in doubles. “I have not played doubles before, but this is a good idea to promote the game and will be good for the sport,” he said.
The match was originally set to feature Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei against Cai Yun and Chen Long. However, Chen Long could not take part, so Cai Yun will partner Fu Haifeng instead. Lee Chong Wei described the invitation as an honour, noting that three Chinese players and one Malaysian would take part. “I will do whatever I can to promote the sport wherever possible,” he said.
He also joked that the experience could change his 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 Gap
Lee Chong Wei observed that training centres in China were mushrooming, while Malaysia still lacked a facility it could proudly call its own. He added that some training centres in the states were in deplorable condition.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has planned a new state-of-the-art training centre for some time, but the project remains a grand scheme on paper.
Lin Dan’s Comeback and Lee Chong Wei’s Response
Lin Dan is set to return to competition after six months away, and he may face Lee Chong Wei at the World Championships in Copenhagen in August. When asked about this, Lee 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.”
Lee Chong Wei will compete in the All-England from March 4 to 9 in Birmingham. Lin Dan, currently ranked world No. 104, is likely to play in 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 enter the Superseries events in India and Singapore to earn quick ranking points before the qualifying period ends in May.
Club Commitments
Lee Chong Wei was also pleased that his team, Musica Flypower Champion, retained their title in the Indonesia Super League (ISL) in Surabaya on Sunday. He had played twice during the group ties.
He initially had no plans to play in the ISL, as he wanted to spend his first Chinese New Year with his wife, Wong Mew Choo, and their son. However, the club owner, a close friend, persuaded him to take part. “He told me to play for fun, but how can I play for fun?” he said.
Lee Chong Wei resumed training on the second day of Chinese New Year to prepare for the league. “I committed to play in two group ties … it was a small sacrifice from my side to just promote the game,” he added.