Yesterday, I was honored to be invited by Prudential Malaysia for their 2020 Kick Off event. There were more than 6000 people in the hall. Massive. I was asked by the host several 'motivation' questions relating to my badminton career. And one questions which interested me was " which match do you think is Lee Chong Wei's most difficult match?
I paused for a while. I knew my answer straightaway but I’m not sure if that’s the right motivating answer. Some would say it’s the 2006 Malaysia Open final. Some would think it’s the crazy 2011 BWF World Championship final. Many thought it’s the 2012 Olympics final. However to me, the most difficult match has to be 2016 Rio Olympics semifinal against Lin Dan.
It was the Olympic stage. I knew the match was coming. Before the Games, both Lin and I knew this will be the last Olympic game we will be able to play at the highest level. No disrespect to other players, no one came close to our level except the uprising Chen Long. We were so sure we would meet in the semifinal.
I was the higher ranked player. And I won my previous two matches against him, both in China surprisingly. But this time was different. It was the Olympics. The greatest sporting event which I’ve lost two finals before. You can ask me to run laps after laps. You can ask me to do drills after drills. They are not as tiring as the mental pressure that built up before the game.
19th August 2019, both of us entered to court. Flashback of my previous losses came to mind. Malaysian fans were so loud chanting my name. I started questioning myself “ What the hell are you thinking so much?” . As everyone was expecting me to win due to my higher rank, I told myself “ You had lost two times. So play with nothing to lose”.
That was when I let loose all my emotions and mental blocks. And we both played a great game. At last, I beat my greatest enemy, Lin Dan on an Olympic stage.
I’m not so sure it was a motivating story. I just want to say if you never give up , you will achieve it one day with focus and determination.
在羽毛球生涯中，你觉得哪一场赛事是我职业生涯中最为艰辛的一场那个比赛？想了想，其实不少，但如果要说一个，那是2016年里约奥运会半决赛，我拿下林丹的哪一场比赛，至今一切历历在目。
2008北京奥运会，2012年伦敦奥运会的赛场上，我两度与冠军失之交臂，2016年里约奥运会，我们提早碰上了，那时候我的心态是当着输来打，反正尽力而为就好，结果在关键时刻，我用最简单的球，就拿下了林丹，当时的心情是激动的，是感恩的，只要坚持我终于还是做到了，在奥运的赛场上，我打败了我最强大的对手。
这是我昨天受邀出息Prudential举办的激励讲座会上和大家分享的一段勾起我满满回忆的小故事，现场有华丽壮观的四面舞台，超过6000多位的Prudential的家人出席，希望我的分享可以给你们在努力的路上一点点的启发，只要坚持不放弃，你也可以成就最好的自己，加油。
Thanks
Suit Sponsor 🕴️@bespoked_ianchang
Hairdo 💇♂️ @arron_matric
#PRUkickoff2020
