Lee out of badminton World C’ships, Asiad

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian badminton star Lee Chong Wei has pulled out of the World Championships and Asian Games because of a respiratory illness, officials said Wednesday, after a gruelling schedule in recent months.

The world number two has been advised to rest and undergo treatment after competing in nine tournaments so far this year. The week-long World Championships in Nanjing, China, begin on Monday while the Asian Games in Indonesia are from August 18 to September 2. BAM did not give any further details about the three-time Olympic silver medallist’s illness. Speculation had been mounting over the past week about the 35-year-old’s health after he failed to show up for training.

The development is a blow for the former world number one, who has never won gold at either the World Championships or the Asian Games during a stellar 17-year career.His achievements this year include winning the men’s singles gold at the Commonwealth Games and clinching his 12th Malaysian Open title.