KUALA LUMPUR: Every defeat is a lesson on the road to becoming a champion, and Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei wants Malaysian shuttlers to remember that when results do not go their way.
The former world No. 1 urged national players to keep believing in themselves despite setbacks, drawing on his own painful defeats to remind them that success takes time and perseverance.
"To all Malaysian players competing this week, whether you win or lose, never lose confidence," said Chong Wei in a post on his Facebook page.
"I have experienced painful defeats myself. But believe me, every match, every challenge and every defeat is part of the journey towards becoming a champion."
His message comes on the back of a memorable weekend for Malaysian badminton, with Low Zi Yu-Genevie Lim making history at the World Junior Championships and Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah capturing the Denmark Open women's doubles title.
Zi Yu-Genevie became Malaysia's first girls' doubles pair to win the world junior crown in the tournament's 34-year history, offering fresh hope for the country's women's doubles future.
As chairman of the BA of Malaysia's (BAM) performance committee, Chong Wei believes the youngsters' achievement is another sign that Malaysian badminton is moving in the right direction.
However, he reminded the young champions that their breakthrough was only the beginning, with plenty of hard work still needed to establish themselves at senior level and achieve greater success internationally.
Chong Wei also congratulated Pearly-Thinaah on their Denmark Open triumph, praising their fighting spirit, understanding and confidence as qualities that younger players could learn from.
He added that Malaysian fans would continue to support the national players through both victories and defeats, urging the shuttlers to stay focused on their development rather than be discouraged by setbacks.
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