Badminton legends Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei to enter BWF Hall of Fame
The old rivals, who reached 15 major Olympic and World Championships singles finals between them, have been inducted to the Badminton World Federation's Hall of Fame.
Badminton
There are few bigger names in badminton history than those of Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei.
Lin was a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion; Lee holds the record for most weeks spent as world number one at an astounding 349 weeks.
Now, their achievements during the course of their long-lasting careers will be celebrated in the Badminton World Federation Hall of Fame.
The old rivals will be inducted to the institution in a ceremony on 26 May 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Representing the People's Republic of China and Malaysia respectively, Lin and Lee met in two Olympic Games finals which both went the way of the Chinese shuttler. Between them, they also appeared in 10 World Championships finals and another Olympic final (Lee in 2016).
Beijing 2008 saw Lin capture gold relatively easily 21-12 21-8, but their rematch four years later at London 2012 was a different story.
Lee was world number one and favourite for the crown, but the Chinese found an extra gear in a classic final, winning gold again in a 79-minute thriller by a score of 15-21, 21-10, 21-19.
Additionally, Lin dominated in his World Championships finals, winning five golds and two silvers.
Lin announced his retirement from badminton in 2020.
Lee, meanwhile, won 47 BWF Super Series and World Tour titles during his career, in addition to three Olympic silver medals (having lost the Rio 2016 final to Chen Long).
He also won three World Championship silver medals during his career.
Having retired in 2019, Chong Wei continues to play an active role in sport in his native Malaysia, serving as his country's chef-de-mission at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer said of the pair, "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."