KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — If national singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong, who is now ranked 28th in the world, wants to know how to get into the top 16 and qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, he need not look any further than national badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei for inspiration.
After all, Lee had done the almost impossible when he rose from number 182 to number one in the world to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics in just 11 months.
And Ng can thank his lucky stars that the three-time Olympic silver medallist is willing to share his experience of how he achieved that astonishing feat with the 22-year-old.
[caption id="attachment_205693" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei celebrates his victory during the awards ceremony after the men's singles final against Hong Kong's Hu Yun at the Japan Open badminton tournament in Tokyo, Japan, on June 15, 2014. — File Picture AFP[/caption]
“I know Ng is still young, but the Olympics will not wait for him. All shuttlers dream of playing in the Olympic Games. I hope Ng uses the opportunity this year and focus fully on qualifying for the Olympics,” Lee said at the ceremony to introduce his wax figure here on Friday (March 3).
The national badminton legend also advised Ng to challenge himself to be among the world’s top 16, adding that the youngster had better be prepared to put in the hard yards.
“Now is Olympic time, with the qualifying period starting on May 1. If he does not make it into the top 16 in the world, he cannot go to the Olympics (in Paris). He will have to wait another four years (but) anything can happen in those four years.
“I hope he qualifies for the (Paris) Olympics. Although it will be difficult to get a medal, at least he can get a feel of the intensity of the Games,” he said.
— Bernama
