Lee Chong Wei unhappy with Taufik Hidayat’s remarks on BWF induction

NATIONAL badminton great Datuk Lee Chong Wei is unhappy and shocked by the controversial statements made by former Indonesian badminton champion Taufik Hidayat on his induction into the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Hall of Fame.

 

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Lee urged Taufik to seek clarification from the federation on its decision.

“Maybe Taufik isn’t happy because he didn’t get it. He should ask the BWF why I received the honour and not him. I didn’t ask the BWF to choose me. I didn’t even know about the induction,” Bernama reported Lee as saying.

Taufik made a controversial statement criticising the recent induction of Lee and Lin Dan into the new BWF Hall of Fame. He found it fishy that Lee, a Malaysian, was inducted by a federation that is seated in Malaysia.

The Indonesian badminton icon if of the opinion that achievements are determined by oneself while the  ‘Hall of Fame’ is determined by those who give them.

“In my opinion, achievements are important. Achievements are determined by oneself, while the ‘Hall of Fame’ is determined by those who give them. For example, if I were the chairman, I would only give it to my own people. If achievements are the determining factor, then what champions are we? Through which championships?

“There is no problem with Lin, he is more suitable. If people compare me with Lee, maybe he is more suitable in the eyes of the BWF. This is because the BWF grants it (Hall of Fame) and coincidentally the BWF office is in Malaysia,” Taufik emphasised in a viral video.

On the other hand, the unhappy Lee hoped the federation would issue a statement clarifying why he and Lin Dan were selected.

According to Taufik, in a competition, what’s taken into account is who is the champion, not who is the most consistent.

“It’s also not about who is the longest in the world’s number one spot. Between winning 10 silvers and only one gold, who would you choose?” he adds.

Lee helmed the world’s number-one spot for 349 weeks and won three silver Olympic medals throughout his career. – June 3, 2023

Main photo credit: VOCKET