KUALA LUMPUR: World No 1 Lee Chong Wei is out of the All England on March 7-12 after picking up an injury during training.
The 35-year-old men's singles, who was looking forward to kick-off his campaign this season, tore the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) on his left knee on Saturday and is expected to be out for up to six weeks.
It is learnt that Chong Wei was sparring with backup shuttler R. Satheishtharan when he slipped on the mat at the new Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara.
National singles coach Hendrawan, felt for the shuttler, saying: "He was excited to get the season up and running and now this.
"With age catching up, this is one of our main concerns, injury."
Chong Wei, is expected to meet the doctors at the National Sports Institute (NSI) either on Monday or Tuesday.