Youth Olympics gold medallist in Nanjing (2014) Cheam June Wei has been picked to replace Datuk Lee Chong Wei for next month’s Asian Games in Indonesia.
The 21-year-old from Seberang Jaya, Penang became the first Malaysian to win Youth Olympics gold – winning the mixed doubles gold with Hong Kong’s Ng Tsz Yau.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria confirmed June Wei’s selection after discussions with men’s singles head coach Datuk Misbun Sidek.
June Wei got the nod over three other contenders for the slot after Chong Wei was ruled out of next week’s World Championships in Nanjing and also the Asiad in Indonesia.
The others on the list were Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Lim Chi Wing, and Tan Jia Wei.
This is the second blow for Iskandar who was not considered for the Asian Games and instead Soong Joo Ven was selected. This followed after Iskandar was hauled up for gross indiscipline during the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok in May.
He was caught smoking in the hotel room where the Malaysian team stayed. Iskandar was also missing from training after the Hari Raya holidays.
Misbun recommended June Wei for the Asian Games over the rest of the consideration list. June Wei, who is also the Dutch International 2018 champion also finished runners-up in the Finland Open and the Austrian Open.
Norza also announced that Malaysia has revised its medal target in badminton from “three medals of any color” to two following Chong Wei’s withdrawal due to respiratory problems after his return from the Indonesia Open where he lost o Japan’s Kento Momota in the semi-finals.
The others in the men’s singles team to Asiad are Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao, Soong Joo Ven while the doubles are made up of Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Soon Huat.
