Left Lin and Right Lee: The Legend Lives On

Jayce September 6, 2024 2 0

A Glorious Era

The forty epic showdowns between Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei have been hailed as classics in badminton history. These legendary champions, who have accompanied multiple generations, have gone from fierce on-court rivals to jointly entering the Badminton World Federation Hall of Fame. Former adversaries, they are now opening new chapters in their post-retirement lives together.

Cover Story: The Legend Lives On

Lin and Lee: Unrivaled Duo

With the improvement of the pandemic situation, Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei have resumed frequent meetings. At the end of May, Lin Dan traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to receive the BWF Hall of Fame induction alongside Lee Chong Wei. A month later, at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, the two familiar figures once again captured the attention of countless badminton enthusiasts. Their camaraderie now is much deeper than the intense rivalry of their professional careers.

On the morning of the exhibition match, Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei indulged in some modeling. Perhaps due to Lee’s presence, Lin Dan was more talkative than usual on the runway. Later, during the exhibition match, they teamed up with current national team players, young athletes, and para-badminton players to deliver a series of remarkable performances. The match ended with Lin Dan’s Dragon Team defeating Lee Chong Wei’s Tiger Team 2-1. However, for all participants and spectators, the outcome was less important than showcasing the charm of badminton and witnessing the legendary Lin-Lee showdown once more.

When Lee Chong Wei announced his retirement in 2019, their battles ended in the third round of the 2018 All England Open. For Lin Dan, this special 41st “Lin-Lee Battle” with juniors felt different. He remarked, “Before retiring, even in the later stages of our careers, there was still a competitive edge between us. But this time, it was purely about sharing the joy of badminton and hoping such interactions would inspire more youth to love the sport.” This is precisely what they aim to achieve now.

Genuine and Open

Unlike their destined battles of the past, Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei are now more sincere and open at forty. Lee jokingly mentioned, “Both Lin Dan and I have families now, and we need to spend more time with them. I have three kids while he only has one; he should catch up soon.” Lin Dan quickly replied, “One is enough; let’s not compete in that area.”

Their familiarity and closeness resemble that of ordinary friends. In many details, these two middle-aged men still tease and joke with each other like boys. During the interview, Lin Dan arrived first, looking around and not seeing Lee Chong Wei, he muttered, “He’s always late.” After a few minutes, he asked the reporter, “Should I message him to hurry?” During the interview, they were very courteous, with Lin Dan often passing the microphone to Lee Chong Wei, saying, “You’re the guest, you go first.” Lee responded with a smile, “No, this is your turf.”

Reflecting on the BWF Hall of Fame ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Lin Dan felt deeply moved: “Before this, many top badminton players like Zhang Ning, Cai Yun, Fu Haifeng, etc., were already part of this family. I am proud and happy to be included.”

As the host, Lee Chong Wei wanted to show hospitality, but Lin Dan had to rush back to China. They only managed to have dinner after the ceremony, discussing how to contribute to badminton’s future. Lee expressed his hope to collaborate in China to train young players and promote the sport.

“He is an official, I am in private enterprise”

Late last year, the Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang National Badminton Training Center was inaugurated in Shenzhen Bay. After half a year of operation, Lin Dan expressed satisfaction with the results: “We didn’t aim to create a traditional badminton hall but wanted to showcase the history and elements of the sport. The feedback has been very positive. We plan to continue youth training both domestically and internationally. In the future, Lee Chong Wei could also bring Malaysian youngsters here for interaction.”

However, such interactions between young players from both countries won’t happen overnight because Lee Chong Wei has a new role – an official on Malaysia’s Olympic Gold Path, responsible for preparing the Malaysian badminton team for the Paris Olympics. Lee admits that being a leader is challenging: “We have national team players and freelancers, and I need to coordinate both sides, ensuring fair competition for everyone aiming to represent Malaysia at the Olympics.”

Besides his official role, Lee Chong Wei is also keen on promoting youth badminton: “I hope to do more activities with Lin Dan in China to promote badminton.” Lin Dan mentioned that they would discuss the details and joked, “Chong Wei is an official now, and I am in private enterprise. We hope to start from youth training, fostering interest before setting specific training plans.”

Avoiding the “Star Second Generation” Pressure

When planning for other children, both Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei wish their kids to follow their interests. Lin Dan’s tone softens when talking about his son, Xiao Yu, who is learning tennis. Understanding the hardships of a sports career, he hopes his son gains a sense of collective responsibility and honor. He wishes Xiao Yu learns persistence from sports: “From sports, I hope he learns resilience.”

Lin Dan jokes that his son exhibits the same stubbornness he had as a child. During a parent-child sports event, they had to cross-country run on sandy ground and climb obstacles together. “Xiao Yu was one of the youngest participants. When he was tired, I told him to slow down, but he said we needed to hurry or we’d lose.” Lin Dan was surprised by his son’s competitiveness. At home, Lin Dan plays both good cop and bad cop, while Xie Xingfang plays the bad cop role.

Lee Chong Wei, on the other hand, supports his children’s interests without forcing them into any sport. His two sons like badminton and participate in competitions, but his wife, Wong Mew Choo, accompanies them. Lee’s sons sometimes ask why he doesn’t take them to matches, and he feels his presence might pressure them. Occasionally, he plays badminton with them at a nearby court but rarely plays competitively anymore. Lee mentioned Lin Dan’s recommendation to try golf, and he plans to give it a shot. He maintains his fitness with gym sessions, cycling, and tennis.

Lin Dan enjoys golf, saying, “Golf changes every day and requires control and mindset. I’ve recommended it to many, including current players like Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong.” While he is still learning and far from competing in amateur tournaments, Lin Dan maintains high fitness standards: “I’ve seen photos of retired football stars; I don’t want to look like that, so I keep exercising.”

Lifelong Rivals, Lifelong Friends

Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei will always be linked in people’s minds. Their lifelong rivalry turned into lifelong friendship. Lin Dan said, “We competed for many years, from the 2000 Asian Junior Championships in Kyoto until retirement. Few men’s singles players can achieve that. Our matches usually happened at top events, leaving a lasting impression.” Lee Chong Wei agreed, stating that their battles, regardless of the outcome, pushed each other to play better.

Their first encounter was at the 2000 Asian Junior Championships in Japan, where 17-year-old Lin Dan and 18-year-old Lee Chong Wei began their near two-decade rivalry. Lin Dan won, and Lee took third place. For a long time, Lin Dan focused on defeating Taufik Hidayat, much like how Lee later aimed to surpass him.

In their youth, both collected cars and watches, but Lin Dan was outgoing and sociable, while Lee was low-key and cautious, hiding his ambitions behind a modest public image.

From 2004 to 2016, Lee Chong Wei represented Malaysia in four Olympics, winning three silver medals. Despite numerous defeats, he earned the title “Warrior” for his relentless spirit, as depicted in his biographical film, Lee Chong Wei: Rise of the Legend. Choosing to let go signified rebirth for him. Though he never won a world championship, his numerous records stand as a testament to his greatness.

Lin Dan’s Later Career

Lin Dan’s later career showcased his resilience. The final phase of his career was the toughest and most unfamiliar. Having experienced everything, he understood the harsh reality of competitive sports: “In sports, you receive applause when you win and criticism when you don’t. That’s normal. I’ve been very fortunate. People always want to keep winning, but that’s unrealistic. A career with ups and downs is perfect.”

Lin Dan never had an official retirement ceremony, sticking to his promise of a 60-second farewell speech, saying repeatedly, “I don’t want to leave!” Fans always long to see Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei play, reminiscing about their legendary matches. Lin Dan joked that the current men’s singles players’ lack of dominance keeps their legacy alive.

“Every era has different athletes. We were remembered for maintaining top form in major events for a long time. Now, men’s and women’s singles play styles are similar, making matches less distinctive. But this is also badminton’s evolution.”

New Stars and Future Contributions

Lin Dan hopes for new stars in badminton: “We hope more stars and superstars emerge in badminton. They must strive for glory for themselves, fans, and their countries.” Reflecting on the Sudirman Cup, he praised the young national team players for their excellent performance and expressed hope for their success at the Paris Olympics.

In the final week of this magazine’s deadline, the “Lin Dan Cup” Badminton Open concluded in Chenzhou, Hunan. This was the first time the Lin Dan Cup