Lee Chong Wei, Malaysia badminton legend retires, ending 19-year career

Malaysia badminton legend Lee Chong Wei tearfully announced his retirement. [Source: Reuters]

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia badminton legend Lee Chong Wei announced his retirement from badminton on Thursday (June 13, 2019) in the press conference accompanied by Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq and Malaysian Badminton Association (BAM) president Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.

"It is a tough decision to make but I was left with no option after my recent consultation with doctors in Taiwan last month."

Lee was disagnosed with early-stage nose cancer on April 2018 and he got his treatment in Taiwan for two months.

He was given eight questionnaires to answer about his conditions and the result showed that he was hard to continue high-intensity practice.

In his retirement speech, he also mentioned that it was not easy to go around the world by wearing the national team's jersey for tournaments, but he gave the best result to Malaysia.

He thanked the media present, the Youth Sports Ministry and other government agencies, the Badminton Association, his coaches, trainers, and his family for their support.

Lee Chong Wei is giving his retirement speech. [Source: Free Malaysia Today]

"He was a hero for all Malaysians from all background, all ethnicity, all religions," said Syed Saddiq.

“While the decision to retire has been made, his fighting spirit will not die but will continue to burn in the hearts of Malaysians and athletes,” he added.

Syed Saddiq also called Lee as "true fighter", Lee did not stop the training even he was undergo the treatment process.

He also announced that Lee would be nominated as the next chef de mission for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Meanwhile, Norza Zakaria said he was very sad to accept the decision made by Lee but he will respect the decision of his own volition and not for other reasons.

"He showed to us the true spirit of Malaysians, he fought till the end, giving his blood, sweat and tears to the nation. Indeed, the world will miss the ‘King of Super Series’ and Malaysians will miss our national sporting hero and icon," said Norza Zakaria.

Lee Chong Wei (centre), wife Wong Mew Choo (second left), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (second right), Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria (left) and Steven Sim Chee Keong (right). [Source: Borneo Post Online]

Lee Chong Wei, who is 40-year-old, ending his 19-year career with the longest record of helding the world men's singles number one ranking for 349 weeks.

In his career life, he got 713 wins overall, including 69 international titles.

He was the badmintion player with the most international championships, but in the world's major events, he has never been crowned, known as the "uncrowned king".