Kuala Lumpur: World No. 33 men’s singles player from Malaysia Chong Wei Feng has found it increasingly difficult for him to qualify for the Rio Olympics when he has been playing below-par this season with the exception of the SEA Games men’s singles title that he won in June.
Nevertheless, the 28-year-old Malaysian who was sidelined by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in preference of Lee Chong Wei for the 2015 Jakarta World Championships, refused to give up on his dream of competing in the Rio Olympics.
“I know I am pretty far off Olympic qualification right now, but there is still a chance that I could reach the Rio games next year,” said Wei Feng.
“I have not played in any tournaments competitively for about a month, I will return to action at next week’s Thailand Grand Prix Gold in Bangkok,” added Wei Feng.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to get back in form and to continue to raise my level after that tournament,” said the determined Wei Feng.
Chong Wei Feng who is struggling to put together any real momentum, has to compete with teammates former World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei and former World Junior Champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli for a seat in the Olympic Games. He is currently ranked behind Lee Chong Wei (World No. 24), but 6 places ahead of Zulfadli Zulkiffli (World No. 39).
In Bangkok, Wei Feng faces uphill battle at the Thailand Open when he opens against Simon Santoso of Indonesia. Should he roll past the Indonesian, he will probably play compatriot Daren Liew in the second round.
“I have lost twice to Simon Santoso, as for Daren Liew, I have not played him in any international tournaments for 9 years since the 2006 Singapore Satellite.”
Besides Chong Wei Feng and Daren Liew, other Malaysian men’s singles that will participate at the Thailand Open are Zulhelmi Zulkiffli, Tan Chun Seang, Beryno Wong Jiann Tze, Mohamad Arif Abdul Latif and Zulfadli Zulkiffli.
