Key player: Lee Shun Yang had played a vital role in helping Malaysia win a silver in the men’s team event in Vietnam last year.
PETALING JAYA: Growing up watching the most successful Malaysian Olympian in history inspired Lee Shun Yang to take up badminton.
The national men’s singles shuttler dreams of playing in the Olympics one day just like his idol Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
Former great Chong Wei had created history by becoming the first Malaysian to ever capture three silver medals in the Olympics (in 2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro).
Shun Yang is proud that he hails from the same state as Chong Wei.
“I grew up watching Chong Wei play on television and his feats inspired me to take up the sport,” said Shun Yang.
“I started playing for fun at first but gradually decided to become a professional shuttler.
“I joined the Penang Badminton Association when I was 12 years old.
“I’m proud to come from Penang just like Chong Wei,” said Shun Yang.
“My biggest dream is to play in the Olympics one day.”
The 21-year-old, who is currently ranked No. 96 in the world, knows that he has a long way to go to fulfil his dream but has vowed to give everything to try to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Only the players ranked in the top 16 by the end of the one-year qualification period can make the cut for the Olympics.
“I can’t make the cut for the 2024 Paris Olympics as I’m too far behind in the rankings,” said Shun Yang.
“My aim is to try and qualify for the next edition in Los Angeles in 2028.”
For now, Shun Yang is concentrating fully on his preparations for the SEA Games in Cambodia starting on Friday.
It will be the youngster’s second appearance in the biennial Games after he made his debut in last year’s edition in Vietnam.
In Vietnam, Shun Yang had played a pivotal role in helping Malaysia win a silver in the men’s team event.
With the team trailing 0-2 in the semi-finals against Singapore which was led by 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew, Shun Yang rose to the occasion to stun world No. 81 Jason Teh 21-12, 21-23, 21-16 to reignite Malaysia’s hopes.
The team went on to record a superb 3-2 win to reach the final.
In the final, Shun Yang almost repeated his heroics while his team were trailing Thailand 0-2, but fell just short when he lost 21-16, 13-21, 19-21 to world No. 113 Khosit Phetpradab.
“We did well last year to win a silver and my aim is for us to at least equal our achievement this time or go one better and get the gold,” said Shun Yang.
In the individual event, Shun Yang is not looking too far ahead and wants to reach the last eight first.
