A Malaysian's Pride | Olympics Badminton

It was definitely a night of badminton for most. It was our biggest hope and chance for a gold medal in the Olympics 2012.

My social network feeds and timeline were flooding with the match's update. Since the majority of them are Malaysians, they were all rooting for Dato' Lee Chong Wei to win. (duh!)

It was a very close match towards the end in which kept every Malaysians on the edge of the seats, heart beating at a very fast rate, and wow-ing at every stroke of the racquet.

At the end of the day, Lin Dan overpowered Dato' Lee Chong Wei with a very close call on the third and deciding game. Lin Dan won the Olympics Men's Single Badminton with a game score of 21-15, 10-21 and 19-21.

Messages of support and thank yous to Dato' Lee Chong Wei have been flooding all over Twitter and Facebook shortly after that. Trending #ThankYouLeeChongWei , #Lee Chong Wei and #Malaysians on Twitter Worldwide, something for us to be proud of. :)

It seems that he was almost rule out of the Olympics by the doctors because of an injury several months back. But, with determination, he won his way to the Badminton Men's Single finals of Olympics 2012 and a silver medal to bring home.

"I apologise to all the Malaysian people. I wanted very much to win the first ever gold medal for my people," he said. 

"I only prepared for two weeks because of injuries and had to take pain killers to play. I fought hard and I gave all my best to try to win. 

"I worked very hard but what is done is done." - Reuters

The tears and devastated look on Dato' Lee Chong Wei at the end of the game nearly put me in tears. What's more when he tweeted an apology on Twitter.

That really did put me in tears for good.

He didn't need to apologise because we know he tried his very best and gave it his all. It was the spirit of the game that counts. Also not forgetting the unity of the nation regardless of our race and religion that were seen tonight. We were all supporting him mentally and vocally in front of our television screen back home till our throats are sore. :)

Picture Credits: Reuters

And it was not about the free Baskin Robbins offered or the declaration of public holidays. It was for the pride of picking up at least a medal in the Olympics. A gold preferably, but a silver would do as well. Who says silver isn't good?

Though Baskin Robbins was one of the trending topics on twitter which I am pretty sure has got something to do with the free Baskin Robbins which is to be offered in the event where DLCW brings home the gold medal. Tsk!

This is probably the last Olympics involvement of both Lin Dan and Dato' Lee Chong Wei. I understand that while it would have been easy to say "Don't worry about the results, we are still proud of you!" or "You are still the pride of our nation DLCW!", for the time being it probably would not be easy to accept it as it is for him, the athletic himself. 

Only time and those around him will heal the disappointment he feels. Though, as supporters, we still do look forward to future games that he will be playing and will be supporting him through and through.