Malaysian badminton Lee Chong Wei diagnosed with nose cancer

Three-time Olympic silver-medallist Lee Chong Wei has been diagnosed with an early stage nose cancer, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) announced on on Saturday.

Chong Wei has been off the circuit since the BWF World Championships 2018 and BAM had announced ahead of that tournament in Nanjing, China that, "he is unwell and suffering from a respiratory related disorder."

The announcement at that time statement that Lee Chong Wei would be unable to undergo any physical activity for at least a month. However, now it seems the wait to see the legend back to playing badminton might have prolonged.

On Saturday, BAM President Dato' Sri Norza Zakaria issued a statement announcing that Chong Wei was in the early stage of nose cancer and was seeking treatment currently in Taiwan.

He further stated that Chong Wei was responding well to the treatment and is recuperating.

"In response to recent reports concerning Datuk Lee Chong Wei, BAM confirms that the player has been diagnosed with early stage nose cancer.

"Chong Wei is currently in Taiwan seeking treatment and I am pleased to inform you that he is



responding well to his treatment and is currently resting and recuperating amongst family and close friends," BAM President said in a statement.

He thanked everyone on behalf of Chong Wei for prayers and support but urged for privacy for him and his family and assured that the association was in contact with Chong Wei.

"On behalf of Chong Wei, I would like to thank all Malaysians for your prayers and concerns. Your support has been his source of strength and courage.

"We urge everyone to respect his privacy and that of his family. BAM is in constant contact with Chong Wei and we will offer any support we can to our legend," Zakaria concluded.

Chong Wei, one of the greatest shuttlers ever, has never won gold at either the Olympics, World Championships and the Asian Games. He finished runners-up thrice at the World Championships and once at Asiad.

Recently, Chong Wei won the Malaysia Open by defeating one of the best shuttlers on the circuit right now, Kento Momota of Japan.

Earlier this year, Chong Wei also defeated Kidambi Srikanth to win gold in the men's singles discipline at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.