For the third Olympic Games, Lee journeyed all the way to the final of the men’s badminton singles competition, and finished with silver around his neck, after going down 21-18, 21-18 to Chen Long here yesterday at the Riocentro.
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Chen Long of China celebrates his victory over Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia during the men’s singles final of badminton competition at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 20, 2016.
The 27-year-old Chen won in straight sets 21-18, 21-18 to claim hisfirst Olympic gold after taking bronze in the London 2012 Games andwinning the world title in both 2014 and 2015.
A heartbroken Lee apologised to an expectant Malaysian public, who are still waiting for their first Olympic gold medal.
Lee battled to the finish, saving two match-points but surrendered on the third with a desperate smash that just sailed wide, triggering wild celebrations from red-clad Chinese fans in flag-draped terraces.
“I just want them to know that I have tried my best but I could only bring home silver for the third time”.
But the Chinese heads into the sunset having previously won two Olympic golds and with his place in the pantheon of badminton greats assured.
“I had eight months of hard times, I tried to win gold and did a lot of intensive training for the Olympics”.
Eventually, the Olympic gold medal proved to be as elusive for Lee Chong Wei as the mythical chimera.
Like much of the crowd that flocked to the venue for the semi-finals on Friday, Lee felt he played his championship match a game too early against Lin, the man who beat him for the gold at Beijing and London. He fought his way back to the top of the rankings after returning from a doping ban past year for a final shot at Olympic glory.
“(Lee’s) still our hero and the others, I think in badminton, have done extremely well”, said Malaysia’s team chef de mission Mohamed Al-Amin Abdul Majid.
His defeat meant Malaysia’s hunt for a first Olympic gold in any sport continues. The result also marked the first time in the last three Olympics that the Chinese ace, a five-time former world champion, was leaving the Games empty-handed.
Rio was the tattooed Lin’s fourth Olympics and he is expected to have retired by the time Tokyo 2020 comes around.
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Indeed, the Malaysian was applauded by champion Chen on the podium as they accepted their medals.
