Lin Dan wishes Lee Chong Wei 'can recover as soon as possible' from nose cancer
KUALA LUMPUR — Five-time world champion Lin Dan of China does not want national shuttler Lee Chong Wei to be too concerned with his badminton career right now. Instead, the two-time Olympic gold medallist wants his long-time nemesis to focus on recovery, after news broke last week of the Malaysian suffering from early-stage nasal cancer.
KUALA LUMPUR — Five-time world champion Lin Dan of China does not want national shuttler Lee Chong Wei to be too concerned with his badminton career right now.
Instead, the two-time Olympic gold medallist wants his long-time nemesis to focus on recovery, after news broke last week of the Malaysian suffering from early-stage nasal cancer.
Lee, 36, is currently in Taiwan seeking treatment, and is expected to return home later this month.
Speaking to the media in China, the 35-year-old Lin said: "Body health is the first priority. It is not important when you return to the game.
"First of all, I wish Chong Wei can recover as soon as possible."
Earlier, other top shuttlers including world No, 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, flooded social media with well wishes for the Malaysian No 1.
On Saturday, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) confirmed that Lee had been diagnosed with cancer, ending weeks of speculation over the shuttler's illness.
The New Straits Times first reported in July that Lee was suffering from a career-ending illness after he withdrew from the World Championships in Nanjing, China and the Asian Games in Jakarta last month.
After clinching a record 12th Malaysia Open title in July, Lee went on to reach the semi-finals of the Indonesia Open a week later in Jakarta, his last tournament before seeking treatment. NEW STRAITS TIMES