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<h2>Former national shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei says the culture of celebrating mediocrity has led to the decline in Malaysian sports</h2>
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<p>The three-time Olympic silver medallist said that Malaysia should model itself like China, South Korea, or Japan in terms of how these countries manage their sports, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.nst.com.my/sports/badminton/2024/01/1002443/chong-wei-ready-become-public-enemy-stop-rot">reported</a> the New Straits Times.</p>
<p>&#8220;If we run things like how they do in China, South Korea, or even Japan, we won&#8217;t be seeing this decline in our sports. Culturally, we have enabled this. We celebrate mediocrity,&#8221; Chong Wei was quoted as saying.</p>
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<h2>The former World No.1 was responding to those who criticised him for the dressing-down he gave to national shuttlers following their dismal performances at the recently concluded PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2024</h2>
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<p><p>The 12-time Malaysia Open champion had <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/sports/lee-chong-wei-slams-badminton-players-for-going-on-holiday-before-the-2024-malaysia-open">questioned</a> the decision of several players to go on vacation during the Christmas period despite the tournament kicking off on 9 January.</p>
<p>&#8220;For the love of the game and the love of my country, I will continue speaking my mind and questioning the standard of Malaysian badminton,&#8221; he said while responding to his critics.</p>
<p>According to Chong Wei, while work-life balance is important, athletes have a short window to excel and must prioritise sacrifices and dedication over comfort and convenience.</p>
<p>&#8220;When I questioned our national players holidaying so close to the Malaysia Open, I didn&#8217;t say they shouldn&#8217;t go on holiday at all. I questioned their timing. Everyone can be an athlete, but to be the best, you have to make the tough choices and sacrifice,&#8221; the 41-year-old said, adding he will not stop speaking his mind even if it turns him from a national hero to a public enemy.﻿</p>
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<p>He said the players&#8217;  Christmas vacations abroad prior to the tournament contributed to the team&#8217;s lacklustre performance.</p>
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LCW Says Malaysian Sports In Decline Because "We Celebrate Mediocrity"

LCW Says Malaysian Sports In Decline Because “We Celebrate Mediocrity”

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<h2>Malaysian badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei says the national players&#8217; subpar performance at the recent PETRONAS Malaysian Open 2024 is due to their insufficient preparation</h2>
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<p><p>According to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bharian.com.my/sukan/raket/2024/01/1199824/chong-wei-belasah-pemain-bercuti-ke-luar-negara-menjelang-terbuka">Berita Harian</a>, Lee highlighted the fact that certain players had even taken Christmas vacations abroad prior to the tournament.</p>
<p>&#8220;I saw on social media that some players took vacations overseas despite knowing that the Malaysian Open was scheduled to begin on 9 January. I&#8217;m not saying that you can&#8217;t go on vacation, but you have to consider the timing,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>&#8220;They go on holiday, and by the time they come back, there&#8217;s only a few days left until the tournament. As a former player, I know that you can&#8217;t jump into intensive training immediately after coming back from a vacation,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p>The former world number one also said it was important for players to make sacrifices to achieve success, adding that he used to only take one day off for Chinese New Year.﻿</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not attempting to boast about my abilities, but you can ask any coach I played under about my conduct. I knew that I had to make sacrifices to succeed,&#8221; he said.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nst.com.my/sports/badminton/2024/01/1000877/chong-wei-tears-players-who-holidayed-ahead-malaysian-open" rel="noopener">New Straits Times</a></small>
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<h2>Lee emphasised that, unlike Malaysian players, players from other countries demonstrated a commitment to training even during festive periods</h2>
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<p>&#8220;Players from China, South Korea, and Japan don&#8217;t take breaks during Christmas and the New Year; they stay focused on training,&#8221; he said. </p>
<p>He noted that this dedication contributed to the impressive performances of these players in tournaments.</p>
<p>&#8220;In this Malaysia Open, you can observe the strong performances of players from China, Korea, and Japan. Those who chose to go on vacation faced challenges,&#8221; he said.</p>
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<p class="img-caption">Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan during the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Hall of Fame ceremony last year.</p>
<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2023/05/26/lin-dan-lee-chong-wei-vow-to-promote-badminton" rel="noopener">BWF Badminton</a></small>
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<h2>Lee said while coaches could help prepare players for tournaments, the onus was on the players themselves</h2>
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<p>&#8220;Securing one championship in a year may be normal, but maintaining ongoing success is challenging. The pivotal factor lies in the players&#8217; determination and aspirations,&#8221; he said. </p>
<p>Reaching the rank of world number one, he added, required more than winning just one championship.</p>
<p>Players, he said, must consistently win seven or eight titles every year, progress to the semifinals, and compete in the finals. The only way to do this, he stressed, was by dedicating oneself to training and making sacrifices.</p>
<p>&#8220;This year holds significance due to the Olympics. Therefore, I hope players realise this and make a comeback,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p>Men&#8217;s doubles team Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were the only representatives from the national squad, who made it to the quarterfinals before losing to South Korean world champions Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae on 12 January.</p>
<p>Women&#8217;s pair Pearly Tan and M Thinaah, as well as the mixed doubles team, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, were eliminated in the first and second rounds, respectively.</p>
<p>In the men&#8217;s singles category, Ng Tze Yong was forced to withdraw from his first-round match against Japan&#8217;s Koki Watanabe due to a lower back muscle injury.</p>
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Lee Chong Wei Criticises M'sian Players For Holidaying Before 2024 Malaysia Open