Yesterday is a great day for Malaysia as our most promising badminton player, Lee Chong Wei successfully gets into the final of men single badminton match of London 2012 Olympic Games. He defeated Chen Long from China in two straight games (21-13, 21-14) of one of the semi-finals which doesn’t appear to pose any serious threat to Chong Wei. Well, that is good. If he continued or even do much better with such impressive momentum and performance, he will give a great fight up against Lin Dan from China, whom which he will meet in the final tomorrow to compete for the precious gold medal.
So, it’s much like the repeat of the final in the previous Olympic Games; Beijing 2008, but with certain differences. Chong Wei is no longer world number one ranked player currently as the place is taken over by Lin Dan who got himself present in many tournaments recently that gets him the points in the ranking. Chong Wei suffered serious ankle injury not long ago, making himself absent in several tournaments, thus losing the number one rank. Nevermind, that’s not the issue now. Now, Chong Wei told the media that he compete with lesser pressure this time, but still with the aim to bring home Malaysia’s first ever Olympic gold. Well, if he had that objective, then he must be very pressurized somehow also. It’s inevitable as he seems to be Malaysia’s only hope by now.
So, he will take on the mighty Lin Dan tomorrow for the final. So, Malaysia is once again assured a medal in London 2012 Olympic Games. But the question is that would it be nation’s first ever gold or another silver again? We’ll see that tomorrow. Chong Wei is not alone. Eventhough Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong lost to Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun from China in the men doubles semifinal just now, they still had the opportunity to compete for the bronze, which would then adds another elusive medal count to make the country proud. It’s nevermind if it’s not gold as long as you have done your best and I can see that from their performance just now.
After going through weak and uninspiring performances for so many years, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong finally rise to the occasion in the Olympics. They made their way through so many tough opponents and finally able to book a place in the semifinal. It’s already a very good achievement for them and a bit surprising to us that they made it that far (but not any further anymore after losing the semifinal). They seems to be quite unstable while competing against the much superior China’s players just now. They couldn’t get hold over their area and so letting multiple attacks from the opponents. They are much prone to the aggressiveness and superb defensive strategy from the experienced China’s players. Well, they didn’t do very well but I’m sure they gave it all out for that already. Nevermind, we’ll see you in bronze medal match, and I’m predicting that they are going to meet the Denmark’s players, while the final in men doubles would be between China and South Korea. That would be a good match, similarly to men single between China and Malaysia. I think Koo – Tan had a higher chance of winning against Denmark for bronze, but still they need to catch up to improve their performance. It’s just my analysis and some sort of prediction.
For Malaysians, we are all out to fully support Lee Chong Wei in mission to win Malaysia’s first ever gold medal in the Olympics history as well as support to Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong to at least gets a bronze medal for a better standing of the nation in the medal table of London 2012. Who knows? We have a bright chance over here now to bring not only a medal, but two back home, with possibility of one being gold! For me, to be honest, I’m predicting that Chong Wei would lose to Lin Dan once again after looking at their respective performances and records. Hope my prediction would be wrong this time. I seriously wish Chong Wei to win gold medal, but he is still not on par to Lin Dan’s level after so many years. Let’s pray for luck and hope for the best to the Malaysian athletes. Malaysia Boleh!
(Image above is from http://www.badmintonlink.com/Images/SlideShow/600×350/2012_London_Olympics_Badminton.jpg)
Vincent Loy's Online Journal 
