admin The world number one and three-time Olympic silver medalist, Malaysian Lee announced his retirement from his 19-year successful carrier in international badminton on Thursday.
“With a heavy heart, I have to announce that I am retiring as health is more important,” Lee, 36-year old legend said. Though he has been cleared of the cancer, Lee said his recent consultation with doctors in Japan showed he was not fit for high-intensity training.
His health was the reason for retiring, he said, and he took the decision after discussing it with his wife, Wong Mew Choo, also a former badminton player, the Badminton Association of Malaysia and sports minister Syed Saddiq stated.
Syed titled Lee “a hero to all Malaysians” for his fighting spirit that had inspired the nation.
“It will be difficult to find another icon like Lee Chong Wei. Someone like him comes once in a lifetime,” Syed Saddiq told a news conference.
Lee was ranked World No 1 for 199 consecutive weeks between 2008 and 2012, an amazing achievement in badminton men’s singles event.
Lee won the prominent All England title four times in his career – 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2017, and was runners-up in three World Championships (2011, 2013 and 2015)
Lee won the Malaysian Open 12 times in his career (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018),
He also won the Japan Open five times (2007, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014) and participated in eight editions of the Thomas Cup after making his debut in 2004.
He was the first non-Indonesian player to win the Indonesian Super Series Premier six times (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016))
Apart from these single championship awards, he has tremendous contribution to Team Events. With his leadership Malaysian’s team achieved following awards.
Commonwealth Games: Two Gold (mixed team)
Thomas Cup: Silver (2014); Four Bronze (2006, 2008, 2010, 2016)
Sudirman Cup: Bronze (2009)
Asian Games: Two Bronze (2006, 2014)
Lee has been honored by the Malaysian government with many titles and was nominated as Malaysia’s Chef de Mission for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
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