Lee Yong-dae: My focus is on the Olympics

Lee Yong-dae (left) and Jung Jae-sung from the Republic of Korea return a shot during the men’s doubles final against China’s Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun at the Thomas Cup in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, on May 18 , 2008.(Photo credit: Liu Yaru)Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, July 4) -- “My prime objective is getting into the Olympic team for the third time. It will be great if I can win a gold medal at Beijing 2008. My goals have become higher. After gaining the first medal, I want more,” said Lee Yong-dae to reporters, with a gleam in his eye. The star from the Republic of Korea is one of the country’s main Olympic hopes.

Lee, 19, has been a badminton player for more than ten years. Lee and Jung Jae-sung won the men’s doubles at the All-England Open Badminton Championship in March 2008. They continued on by winning gold medals at the Swiss Open and the Asian Championships. At the Thomas Cup in May, Lee and Jung defeated the top-ranked Indonesian duo of Kido Markis and Setiawan Hendra in the semifinal and defeated China’s Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun in the final.

Still being young is important to Lee. He firmly believes that he can win the gold medal for men’s doubles at Beijing 2008. The young player has issued a challenge to his competitors in this event.