Lee Chong Wei Cup to go international next year, seeks Badminton Asia sanction

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Lee Chong Wei, the national badminton legend and former world No. 1 men’s singles player, has announced plans to expand his newly launched Lee Chong Wei Cup into an international tournament for the upcoming year. The former Olympic Games men’s singles silver medallist intends to seek sanctioning from Badminton Asia for the international edition, while continuing to run the local tournament.

"I have already planned two tournaments for next year, one local and one international," Chong Wei informed reporters on the final day of the Lee Chong Wei Cup at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara. The three-time Olympic Games men’s singles silver medallist emphasized the importance of careful scheduling to avoid clashing with other junior tournaments in Indonesia or elsewhere.

Chong Wei, who is also the BAM performance committee chairman, highlighted that national coaches were closely observing the event to identify potential talent for BAM trials at the year's end. He clarified that selection would not solely be based on the round reached by players, stating that even participants who lost early in the tournament could be called up if their talent is recognized.

The 43-year-old Penangite expressed satisfaction with the extensive response to the nine-day tournament, which had drawn over 2,200 junior participants nationwide across three age categories: Under-13, Under-15, and Under-17. The inaugural Lee Chong Wei Cup ran from August 29 to September 7 and offered a total prize pool of RM104,000.