ZCZC
BSP-08
BADMINTON-MAS-LEE-CANCER
Badminton’s Lee ‘recovering positively’ from cancer treatment
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Malaysian badminton ace Lee Chong Wei
is “recovering positively” from his treatment in Taiwan for nose cancer, a
sports official said Friday.
But Norza Zakaria, Badminton Association of Malaysia president, said the
former world number one was continuing his treatment and won’t be returning
home soon.
“Lee is recovering positively from his treatment in Taiwan,” he told AFP.
“He will stay in Taiwan and continue with the treatment. Lee will come back
when he completes his treatment.”
Norza said he was in close communication with Lee, 35, and rubbished news
reports saying the former world number one would return to Malaysia on
Sunday.
A sports official familiar with the situation said Lee is undergoing
proton therapy, where the cancer is targeted with a beam of protons.
Last month, BAM announced that the three-time Olympic silver medallist was
diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer.
BAM had in July announced that Lee was suffering from a respiratory-
related disorder and was pulling out of the World Championships and Asian
Games.
Lee is one of Malaysia’s top sports stars after carving out a long run of
success at badminton’s highest levels, despite his oft-lamented failure to
win a world or Olympic title.
He is currently ranked fifth in the world, after fighting his way back to
prominence following his return from a doping ban in 2015.
Lee tested positive for a banned anti-inflammatory drug at the 2014 World
Championships, an incident which many feared would end his career.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1025 hrs