Malaysia’s new badminton generation takes on the world, post-Lee Chong Wei

Once, badminton was Malaysia ’s undisputed racquet sport of choice, driven by the prodigious talent of Lee Chong Wei, whose dominance on the world stage made him a household name and a hero to millions.

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But in recent years, fresh challenges have emerged. The rise of pickleball and padel tennis has lured younger generations to air-conditioned courts and glossier facilities, threatening badminton’s long-held supremacy.

Lee’s retirement in 2019 after recovering from nose cancer left the sport in Malaysia bereft of its talisman. Interest waned and courts once bustling with hopefuls emptied out, particularly as the pandemic forced a cultural shift towards indoor, screen-based recreational activities.

However, as Malaysia sends its most formidable squad in years to the World Badminton Championships in Paris this week, interest in the sport appears to be rallying.

Lee Chong Wei gives a thumbs up after a press conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2018. Photo: AFP

Taking up the mantle

Five Malaysian doubles pairs, all ranked in the world’s top eight, are poised to restore the nation’s badminton reputation and ignite fresh inspiration for a new generation of shuttlers.

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