PETALING JAYA: No Chinese New Year celebration, no drawback for impartial shuttler Cheam June Wei (pic).
For the sake of his profession, the 25-year-old has determined to forgo a chance to reunite with his family in Penang and as an alternative, flew to Dubai to train alongside world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark at his coaching base till center of February.
June Wei, who arrived on Friday, was thrilled to bits after finishing his first coaching session with Axelsen and Co on the famend Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex yesterday.
Other shuttlers who’re a part of Axelsen’s coaching camp embody reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore and 2021 All-England semi-finalist Mark Caljouw of Holland.
“It’s surely an eye-opening experience for me,” stated June Wei when contacted yesterday.
“The facilities here are top notch and the training atmosphere here gives you positive vibes.
“I’m really grateful for this great opportunity to train along with Viktor, my best pal Kean Yew and other top shuttlers.
“Viktor is a fantastic host, I feel so welcomed here. Everyone’s so committed and is helping each other out.”
June Wei defined that he opted to resume coaching in Dubai than taking a break as a result of he needed to preserve the momentum going.
June Wei had simply accomplished taking part in three tournaments in India, which ended with a last-16 exit on the Odisha Open in Cuttack.
He struggled to impress in the 2 earlier legs when he misplaced in the primary spherical of Indian Open in New Delhi and was a quarter-finalist on the Syed Modi International in Lucknow.
It was in Delhi that June Wei had determined to make a visit to Dubai.
“I was with Kean Yew during the Indian Open and then the idea (of training in Dubai) popped up. Through Kean Yew, I got in touch with Viktor to ask if I could join him, and he said yes.
“I didn’t want to waste any more time because if I were to go back to Malaysia, there would be distractions such as the Chinese New Year celebration and the quarantine, then I would need to start from scratch again.
“Since leaving the national team (last November), I didn’t really have a systematic training. Joining Viktor in Dubai provides me with an ideal training atmosphere although it’s just two weeks.
“Also, it made more sense for me to travel to Dubai from India. The flight ticket isn’t that expensive.
“Initially, I wanted to base myself in Dubai all the way to March but the cancellation of the Spain Masters (March 1-6) forced me to change my plan. I’m currently preparing for my next trip to Europe for the Swiss Open (March 22-27) and Orleans Masters (March 29-April 3).”
June Wei is hoping that this Dubai stint, though a quick one, will help to rejuvenate his sport.
It’s price declaring that a number of gamers appeared to have benefited from their stints with Axelsen.
The most obvious examples have been Kean Yew and India’s Lakhsya Sen, who emerged bronze medallist on the World Championships in Huelva final December.
Prior to that, Lakhsya failed miserably in the Indian nationwide crew trials which resulted in him lacking out on the squad to the Sudirman Cup and Thomas Cup Finals.
