Lee Chong Wei & Lin Dan To Be Inducted Into The Badminton World Federation's Hall Of Fame
The badminton rivals and friends have been regarded as the most dominant men's singles players of their generation.
By Wayne Garreth — 03 May 2023, 09:59 AM
Malaysian badminton legend Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei and his long-standing on-court rival, Lin Dan of China, will be inducted into the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Hall of Fame for 2023
The announcement came yesterday, 2 May, via the official BWF website. According to the report, the duo will be inducted at a ceremony on Friday, 26 May, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
Referred to as the most dominant men's singles players of their generation, a measure of their excellence was illustrated through their achievements. Combined, Lee and Lin have contested a total of five Olympic and 10 BWF World Championship titles.
BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer hailed both players for their impact on the game of badminton, speaking on how they more than deserve their induction into the Hall of Fame
"Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan were among the foremost ambassadors of badminton over a major part of the last two decades. With their outstanding performances, they drew whole generations of fans to the sport. They both richly deserve to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Høyer in a statement.
Having both begun their careers in the early 2000s, Lee and Lin have solidified their mark on the game of badminton up to their recent retirements
Penang-born Lee is regarded as Malaysia's most successful shuttler, winning a total of three Olympic silver medals in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016. His achievements continued to grow throughout that period, as he snagged three silver medals for the World Championships in 2011, 2013, and 2015.
Finishing his run with 47 BWF Superseries/World Tour titles in his 19-year career, Lee also maintained being the world's number one male badminton player for an astounding 349 weeks, tallying to almost seven years.
Earning high praise for his major accomplishments as well, Lin also emerged as an iconic badminton player, having won two Olympic titles and five World Championship titles.
Garnering huge success individually and competitively, the duo seemed to cross paths once again when Lee officially announced his retirement in 2019 due to a diagnosis of nose cancer, while Lin also announced his departure from the sport just a year later in 2020 due to his age and injuries.
Congratulations to this dynamic duo! In the world of badminton, the two of you will forever remain legendary.
Watch the full BWF Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on BWF TV, which will be streamed from 7pm on 26 May.
