Lee Yong-dae retires from national team but will continue to play

Badminton player Lee Yong-dae looked at an injury on his right thumb, bleeding from a cut.

“I was concentrating on my play to win and could not feel any pain from a cut on a finger,” Lee said after he finished the match against a Japanese duo of Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda in the quarterfinals of the Victor Korea Open Super Series 2016 on Friday. It was a lengthy 81-minute game, and the Korean male badminton duo – Lee is teamed up with his partner Yoo Yeon-seong (30, Suwon City Hall) – advanced to the final four after taking the first and third sets against its Japanese opponent in a victory with scores of 21-15, 18-21 and 21-18.

Lee Yong-dae will retire from the national team after the competition. Lee joined the national team in 2002 at the age 15 years and played for the team for the past 13 years. “I have spent more time in the training center in Taeneung than with my family at home, and I have always been under too much pressure to be the No.1 player in the world as I am representing Korea," the 28-year-old said. "I am trying to enjoy every bit of the game at this moment, and I guess that helps me stayed focused on my play.”

Lee said playing badminton became more entertaining to him these days. “I cannot help but come back to a court to play more even after one day off to rest," Lee said. "I feel alive when I am on badminton court.”

Lee will complete his four-week basic military training in Gwangju City in November after playing at the Korean National Sports Festival. Thanks to his gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, he is exempted from his military duty and is only required to complete the basic military training. He has been too busy to complete his basic training as he had to play in many international games.

Lee will start writing a new chapter of his life as a badminton player in 2017. After his retirement from the national team, he is still qualified to play in overseas leagues as an individual player. He also has a plan to participate in games in Southeast Asia, while he may find a new position at his sponsor, Samsung Electro-Mechanics. “Whatever path I will choose, I will try my best on badminton court," Lee said. "I will play badminton until I reach 35 years old."

Lee and Yoo have been the world No. 1 duo in men’s badminton for the past two years. Yoo will find a new teammate after Lee’s retirement and he will also play in the mixed doubles with Chang Ye-na in the French Open next month.

성남=김종석기자 kjs0123@donga.com