<p class="title">Malaysian badminton star Lee Chong Wei has pulled out of the World Championships and Asian Games because of a respiratory illness, officials said Wednesday, after a gruelling schedule in recent months.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The world number two has been advised to rest and undergo treatment after competing in nine tournaments so far this year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The week-long World Championships in Nanjing, China, begin on Monday while the Asian Games in Indonesia are from August 18 to September 2.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"(Lee) is unwell and suffering from a respiratory related disorder," the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"For the time being, he cannot undergo any intensive physical activity for a period of at least one month and therefore we have to withdraw Lee from his participation at the BWF World Championships... and the Asian Games."</p>.<p class="bodytext">BAM did not give any further details about the three-time Olympic silver medallist's illness.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speculation had been mounting over the past week about the 35-year-old's health after he failed to show up for training.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The development is a blow for the former world number one, who has never won gold at either the World Championships or the Asian Games during a stellar 17-year career.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His achievements this year include winning the men's singles gold at the Commonwealth Games and clinching his 12th Malaysian Open title.</p>.<p class="bodytext">BAM president Norza Zakaria said he had met Lee and supports his decision to rest.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We do not want the pressure of competition to impose a toll on his health. We look forward to his return to competition, he told AFP.</p>
<p class="title">Malaysian badminton star Lee Chong Wei has pulled out of the World Championships and Asian Games because of a respiratory illness, officials said Wednesday, after a gruelling schedule in recent months.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The world number two has been advised to rest and undergo treatment after competing in nine tournaments so far this year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The week-long World Championships in Nanjing, China, begin on Monday while the Asian Games in Indonesia are from August 18 to September 2.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"(Lee) is unwell and suffering from a respiratory related disorder," the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"For the time being, he cannot undergo any intensive physical activity for a period of at least one month and therefore we have to withdraw Lee from his participation at the BWF World Championships... and the Asian Games."</p>.<p class="bodytext">BAM did not give any further details about the three-time Olympic silver medallist's illness.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speculation had been mounting over the past week about the 35-year-old's health after he failed to show up for training.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The development is a blow for the former world number one, who has never won gold at either the World Championships or the Asian Games during a stellar 17-year career.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His achievements this year include winning the men's singles gold at the Commonwealth Games and clinching his 12th Malaysian Open title.</p>.<p class="bodytext">BAM president Norza Zakaria said he had met Lee and supports his decision to rest.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We do not want the pressure of competition to impose a toll on his health. We look forward to his return to competition, he told AFP.</p>