Kuala Lumpur: Although World No. 79 Cheam June Wei has some big shoes to fill after he was selected by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to replace Lee Chong Wei at the Asian Games, the 21-year-old Penang-born player said he is ready to step up at this year’s Asian Games that will be held from 18 August to 2 September 2018 in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang.
“I was surprised when I received the text message from Hendrawan (Malaysia’s men’s singles coach) that I had been chosen to join the Malaysian team at the Asian Games,” said Cheam.
“It’s unfortunate that Chong Wei was forced to withdraw from the tournament, but I will give my best at the Asiad,” added Cheam.
“Everything is possible at the tournament; it really depends on how well we play.”
BAM has confirmed last Tuesday that World No. 2 Lee Chong Wei would pull out from both the World Championships that will kick off in Nanjing, China next Monday and also the Asian Games after he was diagnosed with a respiratory illness.
Malaysian badminton squad last won the Asian Games gold medal was through Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong, the pair defeated Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto of Indonesia 21-13, 21-14 to clinch the men’s doubles title.
