Dubai: Son Wan Ho is at the top of the world — and that’s a place the 29-year-old cherishes holding onto as he eyes an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2020.
For a start, coming into Dubai without any major titles or crowns, Son entered the ongoing BWF Dubai World Superseries Finals as the top-ranked men’s singles player. His biggest achievement was a bronze medal at the 2017 BWF World Championships in Glasgow, while the biggest points’ earner for the Korean was his string of six semi-final appearances at various Superseries Finals during the course of the season.
After getting an extra day of rest on Wednesday following the late withdrawal of China’s Chen Long, Son looked rusty as he went down in three games to Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus in his opening match on Thursday. It didn’t deter him a bit as he set out to win his deciding match against three-time Olympic Games silver medallist Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia on Friday.
“Consistency is the key for me whenever I am out there on court,” Son said.
“My style is such that I want to win everything and that is why people say I am more defensive in my approach. But this style has fetched me the desired results over the years,” he added.
Son’s introduction to badminton was more by accident after he was pushed into the sport by one of his teachers during elementary school. “His name is not important. Till today I have never revealed his [teacher’s] name. He likes it that way and I’ve got to respect him as he is my teacher. It is okay to say that I am in touch with him and he still continues with his teaching job at the same elementary school,” he revealed.
Over the years, the Korean blossomed and this year his consistency fetched him his first major reward when he ended with the bronze medal in Glasgow. Further success came calling later as the seasoned player that he is, Son went on to help the Korean national team win the Sudirman Cup at Australia’s Gold Coast.
“Things have been good for me, all due to badminton. Maybe if I had not started off as a badminton player then I would have played football perhaps,” he mused.
Son holds India with great esteem, not only because he is a regular in the Indian Badminton League (IBL) with the Delhi Acers, but because it was here that he clinched his first major title in 2012 while upsetting defending champion and his opponent in Friday’s final round-robin match, Lee Chong Wei.
“That win gave me a new belief and it is this belief and confidence that has remained with me since then,” he admitted.
Beyond that, Son would love to see an Olympic gold medal around his neck. “I am aware that I do not have many titles that I can boast about like other players. But I have consistency on my side and I am convinced that that one quality will take me through in Tokyo 2020,” he added.
