World No. 2 Kunlavut Vitidsarn may already be a world champion, but the Thai shuttler insists he has yet to reach the level he is striving for — with former world No. 1 Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei playing a key role in his development.
The 24-year-old cruised into the Malaysia Open last 16 after defeating Taiwan’s Wang Tzu Wei 21-10, 21-13 at the Axiata Arena on Wednesday, but his focus remained firmly on improvement rather than results.
“I’m not good enough yet,” Kunlavut admitted. “Against the top players, my attack is still not strong. I know there is still a lot to learn. Every training session and every match teaches me something new.”
Kunlavut revealed he recently met Chong Wei for dinner, sharing a light-hearted moment about the long journey to the restaurant. The meeting highlighted a growing bond that began when they first met at the Malaysia Open in 2023.
After winning the World Championships later that year, Kunlavut credited Chong Wei for his guidance, saying the Malaysian legend often offers advice whenever they meet.
“He told me to attack more and put pressure on my opponents,” Kunlavut said. “Sometimes I get chances but make simple mistakes. I need to be braver.”
Despite his achievements, Kunlavut remains grounded. When reminded of his world champion status, he smiled and said, “That was luck. I’m still not a top player yet. I need to work harder.”
Consistency remains his main challenge, as he admitted struggling to maintain form from tournament to tournament. His goal this year is to stabilise his performances, taking progress step by step.
He identified world No. 1 Shi Yuqi and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen as the benchmarks he must overcome, noting that improving his attacking game is key to competing with them.
“Men’s singles is very tough now. The top 15 players are almost on the same level,” he said.
For Kunlavut, humility is not an act but a mindset — focusing on one match, one lesson at a time, as he prepares for his next challenge.
“I’ll just try my best in every match,” he said.
