Lee Chong Wei to miss first IBL tie

New Delhi, Aug 15 (IANS)

Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia is hurt during the match against Lin Dan of China during their men’s singles final match at the 2013 Badminton World Championships on August 11, 2013 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province of China. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)

World No.1 and Mumbai Masters’ icon player Lee Chong Wei has again delayed his travel plans and will miss his first Indian Badminton League (IBL) tie against the Banga Beats here Thursday.

The Malaysian, who skipped the opening ceremony of the IBL here Wednesday, was expected to arrive in time Friday for his team’s maiden outing.

But he has again postponed his travel plans and will be arriving only late at night.

The World No.1 had retired from the World Championships men’s singles final Sunday with cramps against Chinese legend Lin Dan in Guangzhou and is not expected to be in top physical. He has a heavily strapped ankle.

“Lee Chong Wei will arrive in India on Friday night. He was supposed to come on Wednesday but had to delay his travel plans. He has a bandaged ankle but should be able to recover in time to play the tournament,” Ashish Chadha, chief executive of IBL’s commercial partner Sporty Solutionz, told IANS Thursday.

The Malaysian ace will join his team in Lucknow for their clash against the Pune Pistons Saturday.

Lee Chong Wei was bought by the Masters for a whopping $135,000 at the players’ auction.