KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Liew Daren can heave a sigh of comfort.
Neither of them will have to arrange a way for Lee Chong Wei to attend the World Championships in Basel, Switzerland, from August 19 to 25.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria stated that the countrywide frame could advise all certified Malaysian shuttlers based on the world rankings released on April 30.
The 36-year-old Chong Wei, now presenting process treatment for nose cancer, no longer makes the reduction as he has slipped to No. A hundred and fifty,een while Zii Jia and Daren qualified on benefit as the world No. 21 and No. 24, respectively.
The United States of America can have a maximum of two gamers if it is in the top 150 in the global rankings.
A wildcard should have stored BAM and the three shuttlers from an awkward state of affairs, but the Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed on Monday that there would be no wildcard this 12 months.
BAM can still enter Chong Wei at the cost of both Zii Jia or Daren because the countrywide body has the prerogative to determine who they want to ship.
However, Norza indicated that BAM is not likely to drop any qualified gamers to deal with Chong Wei, whose return to competitive action is still unsure.
“I will go away the matter to the coaching and education committee (CNT), but we can permit all the gamers who have qualified to play,” stated Norza when they met at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) the day before this.
“As we recognize, Chong Wei is not part of the list, and he’s nonetheless operating on his fitness.
“We have also spoken about when would be a perfect time—about his return to the opposition—and I agree that we can discuss his plans moving forward more quickly.
“The precedence for Chong Wei now is for him to recover from his ailments, so permit’s cognizance on that first.
“Once his physician gives the green light, he will play. Otherwise, we can talk about other plans.”
Since he made his debut in the 2005 edition at Anaheim, United States, with a bronze medal, Chong Wei had not missed a single global meet until the last 12 months.
He became diagnosed with an early level nose cancer a month before the Nanjing world meets in August, where he becomes slated to stand Frenchman Brice Leverdez.
In 2017, Chong Wei lost to Leverdez in the Glasgow version’s first round, marking his worst-ever day out in 10 appearances.
Chong Wei is almost sure he will quit his profession without a world name. He finished runner-up thrice – to Lin Dan in 2011 and 2013 and Chen Long in 2015.
Chong Wei reached the very last in 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he lost to Chen Long but was later stripped of his silver medal for a doping violation.
