Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan, the two greatest players in the sport, will team up in the men’s doubles for an exhibition match on 16 February in Lingshui, China. The match will mark the opening of a new national training centre in the province, and the pair will face Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, both world champions.
Speaking on Monday, the world No. 1 singles shuttler said he looked forward to the prospect. Lee has always faced Lin across the net, but this match will see them on the same side.
An Unexpected Invitation
Lee said he received an invitation from China’s chief coach, Li Yongbo, to take part in the exhibition. “I was surprised that he wanted me to play with Lin Dan in the doubles,” the 31-year-old said. “I have not played doubles before, but this is a good idea to promote the game and will be good for the sport.”
The match was originally planned as Lee and Lin against Cai Yun and Chen Long. However, Chen Long could not make it, so Fu Haifeng replaced him. Lee said the line-up still gave him reason to feel honoured. “There are three Chinese players and one Malaysian in this exhibition match and it is an honour,” he said. “I will do whatever I can to promote the sport wherever possible.”
Lee also hinted that the experience could affect his future 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.
Lin Dan’s Return
The exhibition will be Lin’s first appearance in front of his fans since he beat Lee in the final of the World Championships in Guangzhou last August. Lin has been away from the competitive scene for six months, and reports indicate he will return in March.
Asked about Lin’s comeback and the possibility of the pair meeting at the World Championships in Copenhagen in August, Lee’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.”
Lin is likely to compete at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold from 11 to 16 March and the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold in Johor Baru from 25 to 30 March. He may also play in the two Superseries events in India and Singapore, where he can earn quick ranking points before the qualifying period ends in May.
Training Facilities and Malaysia’s Needs
Lee also highlighted a gap between China and Malaysia. He noted that China’s training centres were mushrooming, while Malaysia still lacked one 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 to build a state-of-the-art training centre for some time, but the project remains a grand scheme on paper.
Indonesia Super League Commitment
Lee’s team, Musica Flypower Champion, successfully defended their title in the Indonesia Super League (ISL) in Surabaya on Sunday. Lee played twice during the group ties.
Lee initially had no plans to play in the league, as he wanted to spend his first Chinese New Year with his wife, Wong Mew Choo, and their son. However, the club’s owner, a close friend, persuaded him. “He told me to play for fun, but how can I play for fun?” Lee said. He resumed training on the second day of Chinese New Year to prepare for the league. “It was a small sacrifice from my side to just promote the game,” he added.