Kuala Lumpur: After winning the Sri Lanka International Challenge last week, former world No.1 Lee Hyun-il proved he’s still got game!
Lee signed a two-year deal with Malaysian equipment manufacturer Apacs in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. The 34-year-old South Korean came out of his second retirement last fall to capture the Korea Grand Prix Gold in Jeonju by defeating Ji Hoon Hong 21-18 21-12.
When asked about rumors of him being selected for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games squad, Lee said: “it’s not a done deal yet; I still need to discuss this with Badminton Korea Association (BKA).”
“Currently, I just want to enjoy the game without associating with the national team. I feel physically and mentally exhausted after playing for the national team for more than 10 years,” added Hyun-il.
In addition to Hyun-il, Apacs also announced they’ve signed world number 68 women’s singles player, Adrianti Firdasari of Indonesia, men’s doubles pair Chow Pak Chuu-Mak Hee Chun from Malaysia. The deal includes two years of cash and equipment sponsorship. These players will guarantee to feature in at least 10 tournaments a year.