Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei is already looking to take the Lee Chong Wei Cup to the next level after the inaugural edition drew a strong response from Malaysia’s junior badminton community.
The badminton legend plans to stage two tournaments next year, with one retaining its domestic format and another potentially featuring players from overseas.
The first edition was held over nine days and attracted around 2,200 players from across the country in the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 categories. The competition featured boys’ and girls’ singles, boys’ and girls’ doubles and mixed doubles.
Encouraged by the turnout, Chong Wei said he hopes to retain the local tournament while introducing an international edition to give young Malaysian shuttlers more opportunities to test themselves against foreign opposition.
Source: The Star
“The first one will be similar to this year, which is a local tournament. For the second one, I want to organise an international tournament,” Chong Wei said.
However, the former world No. 1 stressed that the proposed international event would have to be carefully scheduled to avoid clashes with other major junior tournaments.
The expansion reflects Chong Wei’s original vision for the competition, which was created to give young players an experience similar to competing at an international-level event. The inaugural tournament featured live streaming and a professional court set-up, allowing participants to experience the atmosphere of a major competition.
With the first edition now successfully completed, Chong Wei hopes the tournament can develop into a more established platform for Malaysia’s next generation of badminton talent while eventually attracting players from outside the country.
The goal is not simply to make the event bigger, but to give promising juniors more chances to gain experience, compete against stronger opposition and prepare themselves for the international stage.
