Come together for Chong Wei, Najib tells people
Lee in action against Chen Long during their semi-final match at the Wembley Arena in London on August 3, 2012. — Reuters picPEKAN, Aug 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has called on all Malaysians to be together with Lee Chong Wei in the national shuttler’s effort to lift the first Olympic gold medal for the country.
He said that Lee, who qualified for the final of the men’s badminton singles at the London Olympics after defeating Chinese player Chen Long, 21-13, 21-14 in the semi-final, appeared to have the mental strength and emotion to win the gold.
Lee will face his traditional rival Lin Dan in the final tomorrow after the Chinese player beat South Korea’s Lee Hyun in the other semi-final encounter.
“The people of Malaysia will give their support and inspiration, and I told him to do it, go and win for Malaysia, do it for Malaysia,” he told reporters after a ceremony to hand out tithe contributions to the needy in the Pekan parliamentary constituency here today.
Also present was his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Najib said Lee had a very good chance of winning the country’s first gold medal and was mentally and emotionally strong to face the challenge from Lin Dan.
Meanwhile, Rosmah will leave for London tonight to give Lee inspiration.
Rosmah, who is also patron of the Badminton Association of Malaysia, called on all Malaysians to pray for Lee to win.
“I hope Chong Wei will not be jittery when facing Lin Dan,” she said. — Bernama
