KUALA LUMPUR: Given their similar style of celebration on court, an excited Lee Chong Wei took to social media on Monday, to congratulate newly crowned men's singles world champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.
On Sunday, Kunlavut made history by becoming the first Thai men's singles to win the World Championships, following his stunning 19-21, 21-18, 21-7 victory over Japan's Kodai Naraoka in Copenhagen.
Chong Wei, a three-time finalist himself, told Timesport he highly regarded the Thai world No 3, and hoped to see more youngsters, especially from Malaysia, learning from him.
"I met him (Kunlavut) in Canada for our Yonex (Legends Vision) event last month, and got to have a nice chat with him.
"He is such a humble boy, so polite and always willing to learn. With an attitude like that, there is no surprise he is now world champion.
"I hope to see our Malaysian players following in his footsteps. Learn to be humble like Kunlavut," Chong Wei said.
Earlier, Chong Wei had posted a story on Instagram with a split screen video of Kunlavut celebrating his victory against Kodai, which was identical to one of Chong Wei's previous on court celebrations.
According to Chong Wei, who is coincidentally on holiday in Thailand with his family, the men's singles event in this era is so open, with no clear favourites.
"It's not much on skills and gameplay alone anymore. You need to be extremely fit.
"You don't see one or two players dominating like before.
"I even spoke to Ng Tze Yong (Malaysian men's singles), and said you must be fit to last the distance. In the World Championships it's six rounds of matches, not five like the other Open events.
"Kunlavut and Kodai went on playing for close to two hours in the final. Are our players fit enough to do that?
"Thailand is fast improving, three world champions from three different disciplines. I must congratulate them," added Chong Wei, who is also a committee member of the Youth and Sports Ministry's Road to Gold (RTG) programme.
Prior to Kunlavut's history making feat on Sunday, an 18-year-old Ratchanok Intanon was crowned women's singles world champion in 2013 in Guangzhou, before mixed doubles duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai bagged the top prize in 2021 in Huelva, Spain.