Source: Oriental Image/Zheng Hongliang
[Saba Sports News] With the Paris Olympic Games approaching in just over 40 days, Malaysian badminton players’ performance at the Indonesia Open, a prelude to the Olympics, has been disappointing. Data reveals that five Malaysian badminton teams have qualified for the Paris Olympics. However, they were all eliminated before reaching the top eight in last week’s Super 1000 Series Indonesia Badminton Open, sparking media concerns about their medal prospects. In an interview yesterday, Malaysian badminton legend Lee Chong Wei shed light on the crucial preparation for Malaysian players heading towards the Paris Olympics. He believes that learning new skills or tactics in a limited time frame is untenable, stressing that bolstering mental strength is paramount. Lee emphasized that players must maintain mental sharpness and not let emotions overshadow their mindset. Therefore, not only physical readiness but also mental preparedness is essential. In this regard, some fans opined that the Olympics, as the quadrennial sacred temple of sports, should not dissuade participants from persevering due to recent setbacks. They encouraged athletes to persevere and never give up, echoing the Olympic spirit.