Cancer-hit badminton star Lee Chong Wei announced his retirement on Thursday, ending a brilliant career in which he collected a swathe of honours but never won a world or Olympic title.
'Today, everyone knows my intention for calling this press conference. I would like to announce my retirement from the sport after 19 years,' said an emotional Chong Wei in a press conference at the Sports Ministry in Putrajaya.
“I made this decision following discussions with my wife, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman recently.
“It is a tough decision but I was left with no option after my recent visit to my doctors in Japan last month.
Lee was ranked first as a singles player for 199 consecutive weeks from 2008 to 2012. The three-time Olympic silver medallist said he would now like to rest and spend time with his family, and even take his wife on a “honeymoon”, a trip that has been delayed since their marriage in 2012.
