Without a doubt, the badminton world is missing Datuk Lee Chong Wei, the best-known badminton ambassador in the world who celebrates his 36th birthday today, 21 October 2018.
The social media, print, and electronic media are abuzz with “get well and speedy recovery” messages as we all now know that the Malaysian shuttler is a victim of the dreaded “Big C” after being diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer.
However, the Malaysian icon, a household name in the world of badminton, has been getting more “wishing you a speedy recovery and get well soon” messages on this birthday. 
His absence in badminton championships and tournaments has left a big vacuum among his fans throughout the world. 
 
Chong Wei has been missing from competitive badminton since the Blibli Indonesian Open in August (3-8) in Jakarta where he reached the semi-finals before bowing out to Japanese ace Kento Momota.
 
A week earlier the Malaysian had won his 12th Celcom Axiata Malaysian Open title by defeating Momota 21-17, 23-21 in the final.
 
The Malaysian “disappeared” mysteriously from the badminton scene and missed training on his return from Jakarta. 
 
The Bagan Serai, Perak-born Chong Wei was later confirmed to be in Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) seeking treatment for early-stage nose cancer. The confirmation of the “Big C” has not only left the Malaysians shell-shocked but also the badminton world.
 
He was forced to miss the World Championships in Nanjing and also the Asian Games in Indonesia plus several other BWF tournaments.
 
However, the father of two who is married to Malaysia’s former number one woman shuttler (Datin) Wong Mew Choo, is determined and is confident he will be back on the court to renew is badminton journey. 
 
The couple has two sons – Kingston (born April 2013) and Terrance (born July 2015). 
 
He has not given up on competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in his bid to end the gold drought. Chong Wei has three silvers in the Olympics – Beijing (2008), London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro (2016).
 
In the World Championships, he won the silver in London (2011), Guangzhou (2013), Jakarta (2015) after winning the bronze in Anaheim (2005). Chong Wei is also a three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, achieving the feat in Melbourne (2006), New Delhi (2010) and Gold Coast (2018).
 
The Malaysian ace also won the Asian Championships in Johor Bahru in 2006 and Wuhan, China in 2016.
 
Chong Wei was the Olympian of the Year in 2008, 2012 and 2016 while was named the National Sportsman in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2012.
 
Dubbed as the National Hero and Icon, Chong Wei is a four-time All-England Champion after winning his first in 2010 when he defeated Japan’s Kenichi Tago 21-19, 21-19 in the final.
 
Chong Wei is also the 100PLUS Ambassador and the sponsors wish him a “speedy recovery and get well soon” so that he can once again take to the courts and inspire the many young talents that have taken up the shuttle sport – both, locally and abroad.
 
The National Hero and Icon gets the blessings from all badminton lovers. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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