Quiet and unassuming, Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei rose to become a modern badminton great, beloved by his fans despite his tantalising failures to bring home the biggest trophies of all.
The sinewy Lee, blessed with lightning reflexes, retired on Thursday after a 19-year career with a plot like a soap opera, including a doping ban and a frightening brush with cancer.

Lee's decision to walk away at the age of 36 robs badminton of one of its biggest draws and ends his rivalry with China's Lin Dan, his nemesis in four world and Olympic finals.