LCW smashes Zolkples

UPDATE 2.59pm: Was informed a meeting between Chong Wei and Zolkples, arranged by a third party (not from BAM), was held earlier this morning followed by a press conference. Both parties have kissed and made up.

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That is the backpage of today's Mailsport.

I knew Lee Chong Wei's absences would be an issue as per my piece - Chong Wei "sakit" hati - posted minutes after the National Sports Award ceremony ended on Tuesday.

Harian Metro quoted National Sports Council director general Zolkples Embong as saying;

“Mungkin hadiah RM20,000 itu tidak bernilai bagi orang yang berpendapatan RM2 atau RM3 juta setahun tapi bagi atlet lain seperti Pandelela Rinong yang pendapatannya kurang daripada RM50,000 setahun, nilai itu cukup besar. Mungkin kita kena naikkan nilai hadiah menjadi RM200,000 baru Chong Wei mahu hadir."

Berita Harian said Zolkples had "...menghantar khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) kepada Chong Wei dan juga pegawai kanan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia untuk memastikan jaguh negara itu hadir, tapi kesudahannya dia hanya dipalit kecewa."

Often seen as the NSC's blue-eyed boy, the comments made by Zolkples certainly raised eyebrows.

And below is the conversation I had with Chong Wei.

HD: Hello bro, how are you?
LCW: I ok bro.

HD: You free tak? Need to talk something-lah.
LCW: Actually I on the way nak jumpa Datin Seri Rosmah tapi takpe, saya boleh talk.

HD: Honestly, saya malas nak tanya you pasal benda nie. Malas kerana mesti jadi isu besar punya tapi saya tahu kenapa you take pergi Majlis. Tapi up to you, you nak talk or tak nak talk I leave it to you.
LCW: Takpe bro. I tahu apa you mau tanya. Saya sudah baca itu statement semua. Dia (Zolkples) mula dulu bukan saya.

HD: So kenapa you take pergi?
LCW: Saya demam, tak berapa sihat. Association ada inform saya tapi saya beritahu mereka saya tak sihat. Tapi dia salahkan association. Chin Chai ada call me tapi saya tak nak pergi kerana sakit.

HD: Tapi saya dengar you tak mau pergi kerana sakit hati...last year you sepatutnya menang tapi orang lain menang.
LCW: It memang confirm saya tak happy. How they do the pilihan saya pun tak tahu. Siapa buat pilihan, ramai-ramai atau satu orang? Memang tak puas hati kerana walaupun dia (Azizulhasni Awang) world best tapi saya masa itu pun world No 1? Macam mana dia (pihak juri) kira?

HD: Tapi dia cakap you selalu tak pergi event...
LCW: Banyak event saya tak pergi kerana letak event pukul 3, 4 petang. Mana dia boleh blame association. Saya training la bro, macam mana mau pergi. Saya profesional atlit, saya kena train. Kalau saya tak perform atau kalah diorang first untuk hentam saya.

HD: Bro, saya tak mau benda ini jadi isu besar. Jangan nanti Zol dengan you....
LCW: Bukan saya mula, dia yang mula dulu.

We managed to discuss other matters too.

By the way, Mailsport reporter Vijhay Vick was also privy to the conversation above. Kalau tak caya sama saya, tanya sama dia.

I was also informed Chong Wei is set to meet Zolkples today. Well and good and I hope for a good outcome between both parties.

But the nagging question remains - why the outburst eh?

Note: I merely wrote what Chong Wei said to me. Period.

HD says: Another day in Malaysian sports.....