The badminton world is abuzz with a viral post claiming that Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, not Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia, is the true successor to the legendary Datuk Lee Chong Wei. A dedicated sports enthusiast sparked the debate with his compelling observations on Facebook. Comparing Kunlavut's playing style to that of the revered Lee Chong Wei, Nazario's post resonated with many fans, going viral as a result. In his detailed post, Nazario highlighted Kunlavut's remarkable rhythm, composure, and exceptional game posture, which reminded him of the Malaysian icon. As the discussion heats up, it's clear that Kunlavut's ascent in the badminton arena has captivated and divided the opinions of badminton aficionados worldwide.
The post was written by Renz Nazario, a self-professed sports enthusiast. He has written posts about all the sports that fascinate him, including football, MMA, and, of course, badminton. His post about Kunlavut Vitidsarn being the true successor to Lee Chong Wei reads as follows:
"I just realized that Lee Chong Wei's successor is not from our country, but from Thailand.
He has the rhythm, composure, and game posture that is exactly like our national legend, Dato Lee Chong Wei. From the way I saw and witnessed how he defeated our star earlier, it is clear that Kunlavut is on a different level.
He could read every single smash from Zii Jia.
If I'm wrong, I apologize, but I was really entertained by Kunlavut's playing style without belittling Zii Jia, but this guy is something else.
His defense is too good.
His rhythm and tempo are ‘rare’, and the way he sends the shuttlecock to the baseline with great speed is impressive.
Insane. Absolutely insane. Out of nowhere, he suddenly became the world champion and is one step away from becoming the first gold medalist for his country, Thailand.
He threatened Zii Jia the same way he did to Shi Yu Qi. Truly phenomenal.
I apologize, but I see him as the Lee Chong Wei of today; it healed my longing to see our national hero back in action when I watched Kunlavut's performance.
#paris2024
#olympics"
His post went viral, garnering 20k likes, 2.5k comments and 1.5k shares. Many netizens agree with his observation. “Indeed, very similar. LCW was famous for his calm and not overly aggressive playing style, often inviting his opponents to play rallies and net shots, and would smash when the opponent started to lose focus. I miss watching LCW's cross-net shots the most, truly 'class',” commented Nik Fazly. “I've noticed for a long time that his playing style is exactly like Chong Wei's. Finding a player who is consistent in big tournaments is not easy, but he is the one. People might forget that this is his Olympic debut, he's only 23 but already in the finals, which is crazy and very phenomenal. His coach isn't from Japan, China, Korea, Indonesia, Denmark, or Malaysia, but just a local coach. How did he get so far despite not having much experience? At 22, out of nowhere, he suddenly became the world champion. He also conquered the junior world championship before. I didn't watch the match earlier because I already expected him to win. I watched just the first 6/7 points, saw that LZJ couldn't keep up, and I turned it off. For the final, I hope he gets the gold medal.”, commented Muhd Fzz.
I am not surprised if Kunlavut Vitidsarn's playstyle resembles Datuk Lee Chong Wei's playstyle. After all, Datuk Lee Chong Wei is Kunlavut's idol. "Chong Wei is my idol, he was so strong and fast. I looked up to him a lot when I was still a budding player and always aspired to be as good as him one day," said Kunlavut after his nail-biting win against Indonesia's Shesar Hiren Rhustavito in the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2023. Kunlavut finally got a chance to meet his idol before he headed to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the 2023 BWF World Championships. “He gave very good advice. He is good, helping and teaching everyone.", Kunlavat said of Datuk Lee Chong Wei. “His best advice was to start attacking when the opponent makes mistakes, to attack and get points. He also advised me not to play long matches and rubber games because it would make me tired in subsequent rounds,” he said when interviewed.
Kunlavut later triumphed at the 2023 BWF World Championships, becoming the first Thai shuttler to win the men’s singles title. He credited Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s advice and tips as crucial to his gold medal victory. There is also a video circulating online in which you can see Kunlavut Vitidsarn listening attentively to Datuk Lee Chong Wei. Kunlavut also won a silver medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics, much like Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who was a silver medalist at the Olympic Games (2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro).
In conclusion, the viral post claiming Kunlavut Vitidsarn as Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s true successor has sparked widespread debate among badminton fans. Ren Nazario’s detailed observations have resonated with many, drawing attention to Kunlavut’s impressive rise and striking similarities to the Malaysian legend. As Kunlavut continues to make history, his admiration for Chong Wei and the valuable advice he received highlight the profound impact of mentorship in sports. Whether Kunlavut truly embodies the legacy of Lee Chong Wei remains a topic of discussion, but his achievements and potential are undeniable, promising an exciting future for badminton enthusiasts worldwide.
Aaron Colt is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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