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South Korean shuttler Lee Yong-dae uses celebrity status to promote badminton
South Korean shuttler Lee Yong-dae is embracing his high-profile status to promote the sport he loves, including holding a fan meet in Jakarta for the first time.
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South Korean shuttler Lee Yong-dae attends a fan meet in Jakarta on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. (JP/Galih Gumelar)
M
eet-and-greets with fans are a common commitment for most professional athletes, despite their rigorous training schedules and busy competition seasons.
However, for world-class shuttler Lee Yong-dae of South Korea, meeting with fans was something new for him, yet it was something he was more than willing to embrace.
The 2008 Olympic Games gold medalist got his chance when he attended a fan meet on a Saturday afternoon in Jakarta. He did not expect to see around 350 people flock to a small arena in Senayan, just to meet him face-to-face.
It was the first time Lee had ever held a fan meet despite having been a professional athlete for 16 years. He said he was surprised to see so many fans come to welcome him to Indonesia.
“Throughout my career, I’ve never thought I would hold a fan meet like this,” he said during the event on Dec. 7, 2019.
The crowd shouted his name non-stop from the moment he entered the arena. In response, Lee waved and gave some high-fives to several nearby fans.
He continued by giving his fans hugs, taking selfies with them and answering all of their questions. He even sang a song despite telling the audience he was very nervous about singing in front of them.
