Malaysia’s hopes of winning a medal in next week’s World Championships in Nanjing, China and the Asian Games in Indonesia next month took a severe beating with former world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei reportedly sick.
The Malaysian ace is said to be seeking expert treatment somewhere and the 35-year-old has not turned up for training the last week – that has left the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) gasping.
The BAM in a statement issued late on Tuesday confirmed Chong Wei’s withdrawal from the two major badminton meets as he has been told to rest for at least a month due to respiratory problems.
He last played in the Indonesia Open in Jakarta early this month wherehe lost to Japan’s Kento Momota in the semi-finals. He beat Momota a week earlier in Kuala Lumpur to win his 12th Malaysia Open title.
Chong Wei is Malaysia’s best bet to win the gold in the World Championships and also the Asiad. His best in the World Championships was winning silver in London in 2011, in Guangzhou (2013) and in Jakarta in 2015 apart from the bronze medal in Anaheim in 2005.
In the Asian Games, Chong Wei won the silver in Guangzhou in 2010 and the bronze in Incheon (2014) and Doha (2006). – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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