Malaysia's badminton player Lee Chong Wei cries during a press conference to announce his retirement. (AFP)

Lee Chong Wei: Former World No. 1 Badminton Player Retires After Battling with Cancer

Malaysian badminton legend Lee Chong Wei finally announced his retirement from the sport to media at an emotional press conference on Thursday (6/13) in the capital Kuala Lumpur. He decided to end the 19 years’ great career in badminton after being diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer in July 2018. The news of his condition and treatment in Taiwan was delivered to the public in September that year.

The cancer was detected following a checkup after he had been feeling unwell. However, he wanted to bow out after the Olympics next year yet his doctor advised him to rest to minimize the pressure. The decision to retire later taken after Lee discussed with his wife Wong Mew Choo, who was also a former badminton player, the Badminton Association of Malaysia, and Malaysian sports minister Syed Saddiq. He added that his health is more important and would like to rest now and spend time with his family, even take his wife on a honeymoon—a trip that had been delayed since they married in 2012.

In 2008, 2012, and 2016 Games Lee was aiming to clinch the first gold medal for Malaysia but was only able to finish second. During the press conference, he told reporters his desire to go for Olympic as it would be his fifth consecutive appearance. If he could make it five times, that would be a new history in Malaysian sport. But due to his absence in training and missing self-imposed deadlines since April, his hopes of being eligible to compete at the Olympic were remote.

Syed Saddiq who accompanied Lee at the press conference hailed the badminton athlete as a national hero and thanked him for giving many significant contributions to Malaysian sport.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/lee-chong-wei-announces-retirement-ending-19-year-11622752