Zi Hong inspired from Chong Wei's Youtube clips to earn Grand Finals berth

Chiam Zi Hong was only seven when Lee Chong Wei retired, but the Malaysian great still became one of the players who shaped the 14-year-old’s badminton journey.

Too young to have followed Lee through the prime of his career, Chiam instead discovered him through old match videos online — studying how the former world No. 1 constructed rallies, controlled the net and waited patiently for his opportunity to attack.

Years later, the Johor youngster is now making strides in a tournament carrying his idol’s name.

Chiam secured his place in the Lee Chong Wei Cup Grand Finals on Sunday after surviving a gripping boys’ Under-15 qualifying battle against Perak prospect William Phoon, winning 15-11, 12-15, 17-15 at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara.

His victory earned him a spot in the 64-player Grand Finals draw, where 32-players who emerged from qualifying will join another 32 pre-selected players comprising state and national team members as the tournament enters its main phase.

From there, the field will be whittled down through the knockout rounds towards the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final — giving Chiam the chance to measure himself against an even stronger field.

“This is a big tournament and there are many strong players here,” said Chiam.

“I want to compete against them and gain more experience.”

The teenager already has a respectable junior résumé of his own.

He won the 2024 AFFIN 100PLUS Junior Elite Tour Finals U12 singles title before stepping up to capture a U14 JET crown in 2025.

His biggest overseas success came this year when he lifted the Under-15 singles title at the YONEX-SINGHA-BAT-BTY Championships in Bangkok, staged by the renowned Banthongyord badminton set-up which produced Thai world champions Ratchanok Intanon and Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

He had earlier reached the final of the 2024 Pathumthani Junior International Series.

“I want to enter the national team, represent Malaysia and hopefully play at the Olympics and World Championships.

“After SPM, I hope I can enter BAM, focus on training and start playing more international tournaments,” said Chiam, who studied Lee closely growing up.

“I watched his full matches online. I like how steady he was. He would control the rally and the net first, then wait for the opportunity to attack.

“I’m not at that level yet, but I’m slowly trying to learn from the way he played.”

Doing well in a tournament bearing Lee name, he believes, could provide another important confidence boost.

“If I can do well here, maybe more people will know me and maybe the coaches will notice me too,” he added.