World No.1 Lee Chong Wei doubtful for Indian Badminton League after injury

Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia at the 2013 Badminton World Championships, Guangzhou, China

The inaugural Indian Badminton League, which kicks off on Wednesday, could lose its biggest star.

World No. 1, Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei recently retired in the deciding game of the World Championships final against China’s Lin Dan in Guangzhou, China. With the score at 16-21, 21-13, 20-17, due to heat and dehydration, Lee suffered cramps and had to be stretchered off the court.

The Malaysian is scheduled to arrive in India on Tuesday but may not play the in IBL for his team Mumbai Masters following the injury

Mumbai Masters bought the Wei for an enormous amount of Rs. 80 lakh at the auctions which took place in Delhi on July 22.

Wei was quoted by the local media, saying he is still unsure of his participation. If Wei pulls out of the first edition of IBL, it will be a huge setback for organisers who are hoping to cash in on a franchisee based format.

The rules of IBL are also tweaked a bit with the standard two-point gap to win a game being abandoned and replaced by the race to 21 points for the first two games and 11 points for the decider, if needed.

The Malaysian’s coach had blamed the turning off of the air-conditioner for Lee’s dehydration and subsequent cramps.