Lee Chong Wei

Yang Berbahagia Dato' Seri Dr.
Lee Chong Wei
李宗伟
DB DGPN DCSM PJN DSPN AMN JP OLY
Lee in 2017
Personal information
Birth nameLee Chong Wei
Country Malaysia
Born (1982-10-21) 21 October 1982
Bagan Serai, Perak, Malaysia
ResidenceKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb; 10.7 st)
Spouse
Wong Mew Choo
(m. 2012)
Years active2000–2019
Retired13 June 2019
HandednessRight
Men's singles
Career record711 wins, 134 losses
Career title(s)69
Highest ranking1 (29 June 2006)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Malaysia
Olympic Games
2008 Beijing Men's singles
2012 London Men's singles
2016 Rio de Janeiro Men's singles
World Championships
2011 London Men's singles
2013 Guangzhou Men's singles
2015 Jakarta Men's singles
2005 Anaheim Men's singles
Sudirman Cup
2009 Guangzhou Mixed team
Thomas Cup
2014 New Delhi Men's team
2006 Sendai/Tokyo Men's team
2008 Jakarta Men's team
2010 Kuala Lumpur Men's team
2016 Kunshan Men's team
Commonwealth Games
2006 Melbourne Men's singles
2006 Melbourne Mixed team
2010 Delhi Men's singles
2010 Delhi Mixed team
2018 Gold Coast Men's singles
2018 Gold Coast Mixed team
Asian Games
2010 Guangzhou Men's singles
2006 Doha Men's singles
2006 Doha Men's team
2014 Incheon Men's singles
2014 Incheon Men's team
Asian Championships
2006 Johor Bahru Men's singles
2016 Wuhan Men's singles
2017 Wuhan Men's singles
2018 Wuhan Men's singles
Asia Team Championships
2018 Alor Setar Men's team
SEA Games
2005 Manila Men's team
2003 Ho Chi Minh Men's team
2005 Manila Men's singles
2015 Singapore Men's team
World Junior Championships
2000 Guangzhou Boys' singles
Asian Junior Championships
2000 Kyoto Boys' team
BWF profile
Signature
Updated on 21 November 2024.
Lee Chong Wei
Simplified Chinese李宗伟
Traditional Chinese李宗偉
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Zōngwěi
Southern Min
Tâi-lôLí Tsong-uí

Lee Chong Wei (Chinese: 李宗伟; pinyin: Lǐ Zōngwěi; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lí Chong-úi; born 21 October 1982) is a Malaysian former professional badminton player. As a singles player, Lee was ranked first worldwide for 349 weeks, including a 199-week streak from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012.[1][2] He is the fifth Malaysian player after Foo Kok Keong, Rashid Sidek, Roslin Hashim and Wong Choong Hann to achieve such a ranking (since official rankings were first kept in the 1980s), and is the only Malaysian shuttler who has held the number one ranking for more than a year.[3] On 2 May 2023, Lee was inducted to BWF Badminton Hall of Fame.[4] He is widely regarded as one of the greatest badminton players of all time.[5][6]

Lee is a triple silver medalist at the Olympic Games, and the sixth Malaysian to win an Olympic medal.[3] He won his first silver medal in 2008, also the first time a Malaysian had reached the finals in the men's singles event. This achievement earned him the title Datuk, and led to then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak describing him as a national hero.[7] He repeated the achievement twice more in 2012 and 2016, thus making him the most successful Malaysian Olympian in history.[8]

On 13 June 2019, Lee announced his retirement after struggling to return to full fitness following a nose cancer diagnosis.[9] He was appointed as Malaysia's chef de mission for the 2020 Summer Olympics,[10] but skipped the event due to his health concerns. He retained his role, albeit serving it virtually.[11][12]

  1. ^ "Chong Wei calls it quits". The Star. thestar.com.my. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  2. ^ "最新世界排名 林丹压宗伟重返第一". Kwong Wah Yit Poh. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  3. ^ a b "马来西亚选手李宗伟向历史纪录挑战 中国三虎围剿林丹最有威胁". Malaysia International Education Alliance. Schoolmy.com. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei Elected to BWF Hall of Fame". Badminton World Federation. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Lee Chong Wei 'feels like giving up' on Malaysian badminton". france24. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  6. ^ Browning, Oliver. "Watch as Badminton legends Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei inducted into Hall of Fame". independent. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Chong Wei a national hero, says Najib". Daily Express News. 18 August 2008. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  8. ^ "London 2012 Badminton: Lin Dan beats Lee Chong Wei to win Gold". NDTV. 5 August 2012. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Lee Chong Wei: Former badminton world number one retires after cancer treatment". BBC. BBC.com. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  10. ^ "OCM confirms Chong Wei as chef de mission for Tokyo Olympics". New Straits Times. nst.com.my. Bernama. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Chong Wei not going to Tokyo Olympics, confirms minister". Malay Mail. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Chong Wei remains as Malaysia chef de mission despite not travelling to Tokyo Olympics". Stadium Astro. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.