Lee Chong Wei Won’t Scrimmage at the World Badminton Championships
In a twist that feels like a dramatic plot of a sports soap, Malaysia’s badminton royalty, Lee Chong Wei, is officially out of the August World Championships. The former world No. 1 finds his ranking plummeting to 113 after a hard‑hit cancer battle, meaning he’s no longer in the “top‑150 ticket‑bucket” that countries need to field players.
What the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Says
Michelle Chai, the BAM general manager, and her teammate Norza Zakaria have spoken up. According to them:
- Lee isn’t in the ranking cut‑off – he’s literally “not on the list”.
- BAM will field players based on the official April rankings, and with Lee dropping out, Malaysia will send two other pros: Lee Zii Jia and Liew Daren.
- Chai stresses, “Lee’s path forward is getting healthy, not hitting the punches in Switzerland.”
The Cancer Roadblock
Lee is currently battling the aftermath of being diagnosed with early‑stage nose cancer last July. He’s juggled treatments in Taiwan, a rigorous diet of chem‑cycles and steroids, and an ambition to not just return but to triumph again.
Even after resuming training in January, the 36‑year‑old has checked off a couple of tournaments but with…
- The All England Open (March) –‑ missed.
- The Malaysia Open (April) –‑ also skipped.
- The Sudirman Cup (June) –‑ a mixed‑team event in China that’s now off his calendar.
All in all, Lee’s “cameron” backstory is one of resilience. But until he can climb the rankings back into the top‑150, MLB might have to celebrate from the sidelines.
Why Lee Won’t Play in August
Because the championships are up at the end of September in Switzerland, and this October squad is bound only to those in the top‑150. Lee sits at 113 – clearly good, but not good enough for the tournament gate.
Final Word from Norza Zakaria
“We’ve got a priority list, and Lee’s current job is to heal,” says the BAM president. He adds, “Let’s step back and watch him recover. The world can come back in time.”
So, while fans miss his lightspeed smashes, there’s hope. Stay tuned for when Lee lifts off again. Until then, consider this a temporary when and not a permanent ‘no’.
