Lee Chong Wei bids a teary farewell
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian badminton legend, Lee Chong Wei bid a tearful adieu to the badminton world today.
“I want to announce my retirement after 19 years. It was a tough decision.
“My doctors told me to reduce tension as it is not suitable for high intensity training,” he said in reference to the nose cancer treatment he underwent.
Lee said this at a press conference held at the Youth and Sports Ministry complex in Putrajaya.
Also present by his side were his wife Wong Mew Choo, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, his deputy Steven Sim Chee Keong and Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Norza Zakaria.
Lee said that his doctors had advised him to rest and after consulting his family, BAM and the ministry, he had decided to call it a day.
“It is a tough decision because I love the sport but my health is more important,” he said.
Since last week, there were intense speculation that Lee would quit the badminton world as the sport would strain his health further.
Lee has been receiving treatment for nose cancer since last year. He had been undergoing treatment in Taiwan.
By K Pragalath
