Badminton: Lee Chong Wei hopeful for World Championships

The 31-year-old Malaysian is yet to win the World Championships, but enjoyed second-placed finishes in 2011 and 2013.

He will not take part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this month due to a thigh injury that has dogged him for much of this year.

Despite pulling out of the competition on medical advice, Lee has not given up on featuring at the World Championships late next month.

"I picked up this injury before the Thomas Cup Finals [in May] but I kept pushing myself. The team needed me and I played on," The Star quotes him as saying.

"Then, I went to play at last month"s Japan and Indonesian Opens, and the pain became unbearable. According to the doctors, there is a tear and it will get worse if I don't get treatment.

"I gave up the chance to win the Commonwealth Games singles gold for the third-straight time, but I'm not going to give up hopes on the World Championships and Asian Games [starting in September].

"I have gone through injuries before. At my age, the healing process is harder. I'm staying positive. It will take four to five weeks to recover completely.

"After that, I will start by doing my upper body training."