Indonesia Masters: Hong Kong shuttler Lee Cheuk turns to world No 1 Viktor Axelsen to reverse disappointing start to 2022
- Hong Kong shuttler Lee Cheuk hopes a two week training camp in Dubai will give him an edge as he heads into the 2022 Indonesian Masters tournament in Jakarta
- After turning down a wild-card entry to last month’s Thomas Cup, Hong Kong squad hopes to better a disappointing start to 2022
This week’s Indonesia Masters will be a true test for Hong Kong shuttler Lee Cheuk-yiu ahead of an intense, seven-week competition tour across Southeast Asia.
The No 2-ranked player in Hong Kong has spent the past two weeks in Dubai training with world No 1 Viktor Axelsen in the hope of turning around a disappointing first half of the year, that has seen two first-round exits and two second-round exits.
Lee was one of a select few to receive an invitation to train in the UAE with Axelsen, who set up a training hub at the famed Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex just weeks after winning Olympic gold in Tokyo last August. Singapore world champion Loh Kean yew and India’s world No 9 Lakshya Sen were among the other invited players.
“I trained quite well in Dubai,” said Lee, without giving away too many trade secrets. “We usually train together for a few weeks before big tournaments like this one.”
Hong Kong head badminton coach Tim He Yiming said he was not putting any additional pressure on his young player.
“It’s only two weeks training in Dubai, we don’t put much pressure on Lee, I hope he doesn’t put pressure on himself, just take one match at a time,” He said.
After turning down a wild-card entry to last month’s Thomas Cup, Hong Kong are sending six players to this year’s Indonesia Masters, which begins on Tuesday at Istora Senayan in Jakarta.