As one of the great sporting rivalries ends, Lee Chong Wei's retirement leaves 'Super Lin Dan' ploughing lonely in Olympic furrow

Lee Chong Wei's tearful retirement was t just a s conclusion to one of bminton's great careers, it also ended his remarkable rivalry with China's Lin Dan. duo reigned over sport for more than a dece and have only relinquished that hold in recent years as ir powers waned. Both are well past ir prime, but Malaysian was forced to call it quits after being diagsed last year with early-st Nasopharynx cancer.

An emotional Lee, who will be 37 in October, told a press conference on Thursday: "My plan to retire was originally after (2020) Olympic Games. I me this decision due to my health." 

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Lee, a triple Olympic and world silver medallist, h successful medical treatment but he has t trained since April and his hopes of making next summer's Tokyo Games were remote after his ranking tumbled. He was ranked a lowly 191 in world this week.

Bminton fans will be denied one last Olympic showdown between Lee and Lin, who is one year younger and almost certain to retire after Tokyo.

"Lin Dan and myself are rivals on court, but outside court we are close friends," Lee told reporters.

Lee spent a total of 348 weeks as world number one but never won a world or Olympic title -- primarily after falling short in nail-biting showdowns with his nemesis Lin.

Lin was quick to react to Lee's anuncement, posting on China's Twitter-like Weibo: "I will be alone on (bminton) court and one will accompany me." Lee wrote in reply: "I hope that you can realise your dreams and reach Olympics for a fifth time." 

- Lee 'spurred me on' - ded Lin.

For fans of bminton, among m millions in China and Malaysia, ir rivalry has been stuff of legend and will be dearly missed. Lee and Lin played each or 40 times stretching back to 2004, with "Super Dan" winning 28 of ir matches. What turned out to be ir last hurrah was in quarter-finals at prestigious All England Open in March last year.

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Lin, also a former number one but w ranked a comparatively lowly 16th in world, won 21-16, 21-17. Six months later came shock news that Lee h cancer.

Lee is a national hero in Malaysia and will go down as one of sport's finest players. In an era when China dominated, Lee -- who once called Lin "my life's greatest opponent" -- was often lone bulwark to Chinese sweeping all before m. But when it came to facing Lin, it was Chinese, often regarded as best shuttler of all time, who h edge on biggest occasions.

At Beijing 2008 Olympics and at London 2012, Lin defeated Lee in final to take gold each time. In London, Lee led 19-18 in deciding game before fatally deciding to leave a shot that fell on line. He got a measure of revenge at Rio 2016 Olympics, beating Lin over three thrilling games in semi-finals, only to lose in final to Lin's compatriot Chen Long. It was to be Lee's final Olympics. Two months ago, Lin said that Lee was a major reason for him ploughing on even as his ranking plummets.

"Because Lee hasn't retired from bminton world, that spurred me on to continue," said Lin, whose tattoos and temper contrast sharply with more humble Lee.

"Both of us are still fighting hard for a place in Olympics toger." Lin will w w that battle without his friend, arch-rival and inspiration.