Lee Chong Wei injury could take a month to heal

Malaysian world number one Lee Chong Wei will be out for upto a month after he tore a tendon in his right ankle, severely denting his preparations for an elusive Olympic badminton title in London.

Malaysian world number one Lee Chong Wei will be out for upto a month after he tore a tendon in his right ankle, severely denting his preparations for an elusive Olympic badminton title in London.

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The 29-year-old hobbled off the court in tears after awkwardly twisting his ankle, just five minutes into a Thomas Cup match against Denmark's Peter Gade on Tuesday.

Lee, the 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medallist, was later taken to a hospital, where an MRI confirmed a tendon tear.

Second opinion
"The doctor said that it would take three to four weeks for the injury to heal," coach Seu Bock told reporters, adding that the shuttler will be sent home on Wednesday. "We will conduct another MRI back home and get a second opinion on the seriousness of his injury."

The coach said Lee was devastated with the timing of the injury with barely two months left for the London Games, starting on July 27, which will be the Malaysian's last Olympics.

Very depressed
"He felt bad that he could not contribute a point for the team. He was also worried about the Olympic Games and wondered why it had happened so close to the Games," he said. "He is emotionally down. All he needs is time to recover from the setback.

"We still have time before the Olympic Games and we can help him regain his confidence."

He will receive treatment at the National Sports Institute (ISN) upon his return to Kuala Lumpur.