Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) mencipta kejutan apabila meletakkan jaguh perseorangan negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, dalam senarai awal Sukan SEA Kuala Lumpur 2017 ketika pemain ranking pertama dunia itu dalam persiapan menghadapi Kejohanan Dunia di Glasgow, Scotland, yang bertembung dengan tarikh temasya dwi-tahunan itu, 19-31 Ogos nanti.
Kejutan terbesar dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pemilihan Atlet Sukan SEA Kuala Lumpur 2017 ialah apabila BAM menyenaraikan nama Chong Wei.
Pemenang pingat perak Sukan Olimpik Rio 2016 itu diletakkan bersama empat lagi pemain perseorangan walaupun dia sedang bersiap-sedia memburu gelaran sulung Kejohanan Dunia.
Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) nyata gembira kerana pemain nombor satu dunia itu mampu menjadi tarikan utama temasya berkenaan.
Meskipun begitu, mereka akur jika Chong Wei kekal dengan pendiriannya untuk ke Glasgow.
"Nama Chong Wei diletakkan dalam senarai Sukan SEA.
"Sehinggalah BAM memuktamadkan senarai itu, Chong Wei akan menjadi prospek nombor satu untuk kita dalam Sukan SEA.
"Tapi, kami sedar mengenai Kejohanan Dunia," ujar Presiden MOM, Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar.
Bagi Pengarah Teknikal BAM, Morten Frost, mereka masih belum memutuskan pembabitan Chong Wei dalam kedua-dua temasya itu.
"Kami masih belum membuat apa-apa keputusan.
"Kami mahu memastikan siapakah yang akan layak ke Kejohanan Dunia terlebih dahulu sebelum memutuskan perkara ini.
"Bagaimanapun, kami amat memahami hasrat Chong Wei dalam pemburuan gelaran dunia," katanya.
BAM menyasarkan dua emas dan dua perak serta empat gangsa dalam Sukan SEA.
Dalam edisi dua tahun lalu, badminton menyumbang dua emas menerusi acara perseorangan lelaki menerusi Chong Wei Feng dan beregu wanita, Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soon Fie Cho.
Stadium Astro
Thu Mar 30 2017
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