Rio 2016 my last shot at Olympic gold, says Lee Chong Wei

Two-time Olympic silver medallist, Lee Chong Wei today said he will make a last-ditch attempt to win the elusive Olympic gold at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016 but his priority this season remains winning titles at Commonwealth and Asian Games. Lee, who turns 32 in October later this year, had been denied a gold medal twice by his fiercest-rival Lin Dan of China, who is a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion. [caption id=“attachment_1466529” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Lee Chong has his eye on an Olympic medal. PTI[/caption] The Malaysian had planned to retire after the 2012 London Olympics but after failing to become Malaysia’s first-ever gold medal in any sport, Lee decided to give himself one more shot at the Olympics. “This year I will finish all my big tournaments. If I stay injury free, I will play in the 2016 Rio Olympics, it would be my last Olympics. My wife always supported me all the way, so I’ll give my best,” said the world number one Malaysian, who reached the semifinals of the fourth India Open today. “My main target this year is Commonwealth Games and Asian Games because it comes every four years and I will retire before the next. So these two tournaments would be very important for me,” he said. Asked about if winning the world championship is also on his mind, Lee said: “Yeah, there are too many tournaments this year. I think it is Commonwealth Games, then World Championship and then Asian Games. Also there is Thomas Cup in May.” Lee, who beat P Kashyap 21-15 21-13 in the quarterfinals today, said it was a tough match against the Indian: “Every year, I enjoy being here for India Open. Thanks to the organisers and sponsors, they always call me to come to India Open and I enjoy here,” he said. “Kashyap played very well today. I had to change my game and I started playing more attacking and faster game. I think today he played better, it was tougher than our previous meetings,” said Lee, who will take on seventh seed Chinese Du Pengyu tomorrow. PTI