Malaysian shuttler Chong Wei Feng claims that his decision to leave BAM was purely premised on his need for a change of environment, in order to revive his performances.
The 28 year-old has reportedly been contemplating the decision for a considerable amount of time now, though he opted to finalize it after failing to secure an Olympic slot.
“I thought about the decision thoroughly before finalizing it,” Wei Feng was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
“I have been thinking about this for a long time and I previously did mention that I might make a change if I don’t qualified for the Olympic Games. Well, this is my decision.
“I will play for a club now and the announcement has not been made yet because we are still undergoing several discussions before I can officially sign a contract,” Wei Feng added.
During his time with BAM, Chong Wei Feng won the 2015 SEA Games gold medal in Singapore. He also helped the national team win a silver medal at the 2014 Thomas Cup.
With his BAM departure being confirmed, Wei Feng will now switch his attentin towards the Malaysian Open, where he is set to face Japan’s Kenichi Tago in the qualifying round tomorrow.
WHAT DO WE THINK?
Chong Wei Feng was selected to join the national team in 2004 and he immediately made a name for himself after helping the country to a third place finish in the 2004 World Junior Championships in Richmond, Canada. He then went on to win gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 SEA Games in Glasgow and Singapore respectively. The 28 year-old achieved a career high of being the 12th best player in the world in 2013.
But he never really managed to maximize his potential, did he? It was always a roller-coaster ride for both parties. Wei Feng had a golden opportunity and step things up when Chong Wei was banned for doping, but even then, he struggled to make an impression. It’s difficult to see Wei Feng bouncing back after this, but perhaps, as he claimed, a change in environment could be what he needs right now.
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