The decision has been made ten days ago. Together with Datuk Seri Norza, we met at YB Sy Saddiq’s house and collectively agreed for my request to hang my racquet. They were solemn yet I managed to keep my emotions intact. It was heavy, very heavy. They were understanding, and I was grateful for that. They didn’t force me to play on. I simply couldn’t play anymore.

Wife made us brunch. My kids and I monkeyed through the meal. We had fun. Then my personal friend cum assistant came. He passed me the script I would have to follow in the press conference. I tried to memorize. It was piece of cake. Even Kingston said ,” Wah papa, your BM and England better than me”. We laughed.

After a long warm bath, I looked at the guy in the mirror, “Want to try one more time?” Then my sight gazed down to my neck and body. My body was so frail and thin. My muscles were jelly soft. The scar on my neck was so deep and dark after all the treatment.

Opening the wardrobe, I took out the Yonex Tiger Stripes Malaysia Jacket, chosen as my press conference attire. Standing beside me Mew Choo pointed out ,” Do you still remember when we started playing professionally, the national shirt we had was the plain white shirt with Proton Tiger logo as its main print? Never knew 19 years later, you would end it with a tiger on your shirt as well”. She looked into my eyes. I couldn’t utter any word. She hugged me, whispered, “You have given your all”.

Together we hopped on my friend’s car to Menara KBS. In the car, I was told worldwide media friends would attend the press conference. I took out the script, hoping to memorize one last time. My another hand? Clutching hard Mew Choo’s hand…

Suddenly my phone kept vibrating. My teammates. My relatives. My close friends. Words spread. They knew. I declined all their calls, trying to remain steady. I read their messages and heard their voice messages. Some cried. Some offered support. Many said thank you with pictures of me holding cups and the national flag.

Met my ex coaches Datuk Misbun, Datuk Seu Bock, Hendrawan at the center. They patted me and the pack. The conversations were short. Been with me too long. They knew I was focusing, trying to keep my emotions intact. I simply didn’t want to cry in public. Not in front of millions of live Malaysian and international audience.

Sat in between Datuk Seri Norza and Yb Sy Saddiq. I started off my speech. It was unimpressive. Facing the crowd, I didn’t remember the script at all, only relying on the key points to carry me through. Grammar out. Bahasa out. But I thought still okay. As long I didn’t crumble. Inside, I was trembling, shattering...

Then, started to thank my coaches, my team. All a sudden, flashbacks of how I trained in Penang came first. Flashbacks of my early morning trainings, jokes and banters with teammates, the walks into the court, the shouts of ‘Lee Chong Wei” from fans, the emotions of standing on the podium looking at the Malaysian flag”. I couldn’t hold back. I teared.

It has been a year. A year since I announced an end to my 25 years active badminton career span. It would never be the same for me again, but I think I still made the right decision. After all, I have given my all, my best, although sometimes the best may not be good enough…

一年前的今天，我宣布退役，结束我在马来西亚国家队19年的羽毛球生涯！过去一年我有更多的时间陪伴家人，也履行了承诺带老婆去旅行，幸运的是当时候还没有爆发新冠疫情，一切安排得刚刚好。

别问我会不会想念球场。

19年的国家队，6年槟州队一员，25年羽毛球职业生涯，占了我大半辈子人生，球迷们在场上一次一次大喊我的名字，那个场景那个声音，午夜梦回还总会在耳边回荡。

真心感谢球迷们对我的支持和爱护，就算我退役了，这份热情也少不了，还有谢谢教练团队，羽总主席，羽总的全体上下，所有帮助过我的爱我的朋友们......

阳光总在风雨后，这个行管令让我们有更多时间沉淀自己，好好想想未来人生；生活继续，加油努力，我们后会有期。❤️

今晚8点，Astro Arena有我的访问😊

我对于住宿的要求还蛮高的😊

总希望到了一个陌生的国度，
可以找到一个舒服的小天地。

因为每一次的发现
每一次的探索
虽然大部分时候都很随性
可是还是会有疲惫的时候
所以回到住宿后
就很需要一个可以真正放松的地方❤️

走入THE JUNEI HOTEL Kyoto Imperial Palace West 后
真的让我很惊艳‼️
还以为走入了一个spa馆
太太太relax了‼️

就连房间也是很雅致舒适
可以调校疗愈的虫鸣音乐
而我最爱的肯定是浴缸🛁
还能在这里泡hydrogen bath
一整天的疲惫
都统统蒸发掉了🤩

这样的酒店怎能不让人心醉😍

#thejuneihotel #kyoto #kyotohotel #best #stay #recommend #accommodation #xyphotography #xygotravel #relax #juneihotel #xystay #xy #xiaoyu

这是很长的一篇，
就让我发泄一下无法畅快说话的苦闷吧哈哈!

昨天我过了一个很富足的平安夜(虽然我一直保持安静，心里的悸动无法用声音表达😂)。
我到老板家去聚会，
老板娘和她弟弟一起煮了丰盛的一餐给我们，我真的觉得很满足饱足!
我越来越明白为什么人家说抓住一个人的胃很重要，吃可是直接温暖到身理心理的啊!
来，大家帮我做reminder, 2019年我认认真真要学进步厨艺做小厨娘，我真的很期待别人来到我家可以开心吃一顿的感觉啊!
(快介绍西餐大厨给我!我要拜师!)

买礼物真的是一门学问，
真的太难了吧。。。
我真的很害怕收到我的礼物的人会恨我，
虽然我自己是蛮喜欢的哈哈哈!
不过就是心意嘛心意，
重要的是当下的氛围不是吗?
礼轻情义重!
Well,我抽到Bath And Body Work的蜡烛，
而且还是我喜欢的味道耶!
还有要谢谢老板在欧洲买的包，每一次到一个地方都要他破费真不好意思呵呵。
当然还有哥哥妹妹的生日圣诞礼物，
下次直接给我，不用浪费包装哦哈哈哈!

好嘛。。
我很喜欢圣诞节，
也不知为什么就觉得有种温馨的feel~
但今年整个人处于忙乱失魂当中，
没有好好呼吸圣诞的空气，
Is ok is ok😶
有时候我多希望圣诞老人和麋鹿是真的叻。。。
事与愿违，
但放眼望去其实身边很多人都是圣诞老人啊，除了在这个节日送礼物给你的人，
平时为你挡风遮雨，为你奔波，请你吃饭，对你好的人都是圣诞老人的化身啊!

祝福每个人都平安快乐，
圣诞快乐😊🎄🎉

#merrychristmas
#santaclaus #silentnight #lovely #blessed #insta #yolo #photo #daily