The entire nation watched with bated breath yesterday as shuttler Lee Chong Wei rose above intense pressure to book himself into the men's singles final after a 21-18, 13-21, 21-13 victory over South Korea's Lee Hyun Il. The victory also delivered Malaysia's fourth Olympic medal.

The relief on the 26-year-old's face was clear as he hugged coach Misbun Sidek, knowing he had finally broken the country's 12-year Olympic medal drought.

"The final match is to fight for Malaysia. This win is for me and my coach who has worked so hard to train me," Bernama quoted Chong Wei as saying after the hour-long duel at the Beijing University of Technology gymnasium.

lee chong wei The Malaysian, ranked world No 2, will meet either favourite Lin Dan in the showdown for the gold tomorrow night.

Besides becoming a national hero, Chong Wei, who is the first Malaysian singles shuttler to qualify for the final, will become an instant millionaire if he wins: RM1 million is awaiting the winner of the country's first Olympic gold medal.

If he doesn't succeed, Chong Wei will have to make do with the RM300,000 reserved for those who win silver. Bronze medal winners get RM100,000.

"The win has lifted the pressure off me finally because I have got a medal now. This is my biggest match win because it is the Olympics and for the final, I will stay focused," Chong Wei said.

A thinking player

Malaysia's last triumphant return from the Olympics was in 1996 with a silver from the doubles pair of Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock and a bronze from singles winner, Rashid Sidek.

According to Bernama's Azman Ujang, Chong Wei is seen as a rare talent among Malaysian shuttlers.

"He is a thinking player - one who doesn't dish out the same kind of badminton regardless of his opponent.

"He varies his game according to who he's playing, and even if he loses, it's only after putting up a great fight, right to the end.

Azman wrote that time and again the nation has seen some of its best badminton players squandering their chances of winning big tournaments by not giving their very best.

"As recent as the Thomas Cup finals in Jakarta last May, these shuttlers came close to upsetting China to enter the final. However, they lacked that all-important 'killer' instinct in the crucial moments.

"It is time that these athletes, especially in badminton, the nation's greatest sport, forget about being jaguh kampung (village champion) and take their rightful place among the world's best," added Azman.