DATUK LEE CHONG WEI took a record 10th Malaysian Open title today to strengthen his dominance of the badminton world rankings, but said he was unsure whether he would make it to the Olympics in 2016.
The world No. 1 said he is finding it increasing difficult to motive himself after so many years at the top and will decide after playing in this year’s Commonwealth and Asian Games as well as the World Championships.
“I am not sure if I will try to play until the Rio Olympics,” he said, adding that he may even quit at the end of the year if his fitness faltered.
“I have a lot of personal problems to sort out and will discuss with my wife about my future. I’m a father now so I have to think about my family.”
Underdog Tommy put up a fight, leading all the way before Chong Wei edged ahead at 20-19 and sealed the first game. Chong Wei then cruised to the title with a 21-9 scoreline in the second game, earning him US$37,500.
The Malaysian superstar is unbeaten at the tournament since 2008, the same year he began an almost uninterrupted reign at the top of the world rankings.
Chong Wei said that sealing the title took “a weight off his shoulders”, but cast doubt on any hopes for the Olympics in 2016.
He said he would focus on the Asian and Commonwealth Games this year before thinking about making the trip to Brazil.
He was joined in the winners’ circle by countrymen Goh V Shem and Lim Khim Wah, who captured their first ever Superseries Premier title by beating Chinese men’s pair Chai Biao-Hong Wei 21-19, 21-18.
China’s Olympic champion Li Xuerui continued her love affair with Malaysia by winning her second consecutive tournament in Kuala Lumpur.
A month after taking the season-ending BWF World Superseries Finals, Li outfoxed a sluggish looking Wang Shixian to score a 21-16, 21-17 victory in the women’s singles final.
Bao Yixin and Tang Jinhua continued their perfect record as a partnership when they won their seventh women’s doubles title with a hard fought 21-19, 14-21, 21-13 victory over Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi.
Xu Chen and Ma Jin took the mixed doubles title, beating defending champions Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen 21-11, 17-21, 21-13.
How Chong Wei won his titles
2014: beat Tommy Sugiarto (Indonesia) 21-19, 21-9
2013: beat Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Indonesia) 21-7, 21-8
2012: beat Kenichi Tago (Japan) 21-6, 21-13
2011: beat Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia) 21-8, 21-17
2010: beat Boonsak Ponsana (Thailand) 21-13, 21-7
2009: beat Park Sung Hwan (South Korea) 21-14, 21-13
2008: beat Lee Hyun Il (South Korea) 21-15, 11-21, 21-17
2006: beat Lin Dan (China) 21-18, 18-21, 23-21
2005: beat Lin Dan (China) 17-15, 9-15, 15-9
2004: beat Park Sung Hwan (South Korea) 15-13, 15-12
2014: beat Tommy Sugiarto (Indonesia) 21-19, 21-9
2013: beat Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Indonesia) 21-7, 21-8
2012: beat Kenichi Tago (Japan) 21-6, 21-13
2011: beat Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia) 21-8, 21-17
2010: beat Boonsak Ponsana (Thailand) 21-13, 21-7
2009: beat Park Sung Hwan (South Korea) 21-14, 21-13
2008: beat Lee Hyun Il (South Korea) 21-15, 11-21, 21-17
2006: beat Lin Dan (China) 21-18, 18-21, 23-21
2005: beat Lin Dan (China) 17-15, 9-15, 15-9
2004: beat Park Sung Hwan (South Korea) 15-13, 15-12
Finals
Men
Singles: Lee Chong Wei (MAS x1) bt Tommy Sugiarto (INA x4) 21-19, 21-9.
Men
Singles: Lee Chong Wei (MAS x1) bt Tommy Sugiarto (INA x4) 21-19, 21-9.
Doubles: Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah (MAS) bt Chai Biao-Hong Wei (CHN) 21-19, 21-18.
Women
Singles: Li Xuerui (CHN x1) bt Wang Shixian (CHN x2) 21-16, 21-17.
Singles: Li Xuerui (CHN x1) bt Wang Shixian (CHN x2) 21-16, 21-17.
Doubles: Bao Yixin-Tang Jinhua (CHN x5) bt Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi (JPN x3) 21-19, 14-21, 21-13.
Mixed doubles: Xu Chen-Ma Jin (CHN x4) bt Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (DEN x3) 21-11, 17-21, 21-13.
- See more at: http://www.sports247.my/2014/01/chong-wei-announces-possible-retirement/#sthash.qJVrTjzO.dpuf
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