Growing up as a kid, every so often you’ll see people gathering in front of the TV at mamak stalls, eagerly watching Datuk Lee Chong Wei on the court against his opponent.
...and whenever he wins, it’s always a proud moment for us all!
After a year of retirement, Datuk Lee Chong Wei recalls the moments before his announcement in an emotional Facebook post, and acknowledged his wife, Mew Choo as his pillar of support, who gave him strength through the tough situation.
In the post, Datuk LCW explained that the decision was made ten years prior to his retirement. Together with Datuk Seri Norza, they met with former Sports Minister YB Syed Saddiq at his house and collectively agreed for the request to hang his racquet, “it was heavy, very heavy. They were understanding, and I was grateful for that. They didn’t force me to play on. I simply couldn’t play anymore.”
“After a long warm bath, I looked at the guy in the mirror, ‘Want to try one more time?’ Then my sight gazed down to my neck and body. My body was so frail and thin. My muscles were jelly soft. The scar on my neck was so deep and dark after all the treatment.”
He was getting ready for the press conference, script memorised, and dressed in his Tiger Stripes Malaysia jacket. Standing beside him, Mew Choo pointed out, “Do you still remember when we started playing professionally? The national shirt we had was the plain white shirt with Proton Tiger logo as its main print. Never knew 19 years later, you would end it with a tiger on your shirt as well.”
“She looked into my eyes. I couldn’t utter any word. She hugged and whispered, ‘You have given your all.’”
Photo via Stadium Astro
Together, they hopped onto a friend’s car to Menara KBS. He was told that worldwide media friends would attend the press conference. He took out the script in an attempt to memorise it for one last time while his other hand was clutching hard onto Mew Choo’s hand.
“I simply didn’t want to cry in public. Not in front of millions of Malaysians and international spectators.”
He began his speech, trying his best not to break into tears. “I started to thank my coaches, my team. All of a sudden, flashbacks of how I trained in Penang came first. Flashbacks of my early morning trainings, jokes and banters with teammates, the walks into the court, the shouts of ‘Lee Chong Wei’ from fans, the emotions of standing on the podium looking at the Malaysian flag. I couldn’t hold back. I teared.”
“But I think I still made the right decision. After all, I have given my all, my best, although sometimes the best may not be good enough,” said Chong Wei.
Photo via Twitter Datuk Lee Chong Wei (@LeeChongWei)
The former number one and three-time Olympics silver medalist admitted that after his retirement, things have not been the same.
You’re still number one in our eyes, Datuk Lee Chong Wei. You have made the country so proud!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
