Chery Malaysia joins Lee Chong Wei to launch Youth Badminton Cup with RM100,000 prize pool

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s badminton icon Dato’ Seri (Dr.) Lee Chong Wei is returning to the sport in a different capacity this year, launching the inaugural Lee Chong Wei Cup (LCWC) as part of his effort to give back to grassroots development.

After a career that spanned two decades and redefined Malaysian badminton on the world stage, Chong Wei is now shifting his focus towards nurturing the next generation of players.

The Lee Chong Wei Cup will serve as a structured national youth platform, supported by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and sponsored by Chinese automotive brand Chery.

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“I hope this initiative will help shape strong individuals and encourage children from all backgrounds to participate in sports. Badminton has always united Malaysians from every walk of life, and I hope the Lee Chong Wei Cup can become a meaningful platform for young players to grow and develop,” Chong Wei said.

Chery’s role as Official Sponsor

Chery joins the tournament as official sponsor, continuing its recent involvement in Malaysian sports initiatives.

“It’s an honour for Chery Malaysia to be part of a programme that champions youth development and celebrates the values that sport instils in all of us. At Chery, we believe in investing in the future of sports. Our intention has been consistent: to help nurture talent and to strengthen the ecosystem that supports them." said Lee Wen Hsiang, Vice President, Chery Malaysia

"With guidance from Dato’ Seri Lee, and the support from BAM, we believe this platform will help identify emerging talent at a young age and give them the structure to develop—technically and mentally. We are confident that many bright futures will begin here and we certainly look forward to seeing them become world champions too one day.”

Chery has previously supported Malaysia’s Olympic medallists from the Paris 2024 Games as well as the national contingent at the Asian Youth Para Games 2025.

Three Age Groups, Five Disciplines

The tournament will feature three age categories — Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 — across five disciplines: Boys’ Singles, Girls’ Singles, Boys’ Doubles, Girls’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

According to the tournament slides, 128 slots have been allocated across all age groups and categories during the qualifying stage, while the Mixed Under-17 category will also have 128 slots.

The competition will begin with an open registration qualifying stage, followed by elimination rounds. The top 32 players from each category will advance to the Grand Finals.

The Grand Finals will feature 32 qualified players from the qualifying stage and 32 state selection players, creating a 64-player round structure across categories.

The tournament is expected to draw around 3,200 total participants nationwide in its debut year.

RM100,000 Prize Purse and Academy Trial Opportunity

The inaugural edition offers a total prize pool of RM100,000, positioning it among the largest youth badminton prize purses in Malaysia.

Beyond prize money, champions will receive a trial opportunity at the Academy Badminton Malaysia, adding a tangible pathway into elite development.

BAM President Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz described the tournament as a meaningful addition to Malaysia’s grassroots structure.

“Chong Wei will always be one of BAM’s greatest success stories — not only for his achievements, but for the inspiration he continues to provide to young Malaysians. The Lee Chong Wei Cup is more than a tournament; it is a platform to widen access, strengthen our grassroots pipeline, and nurture the next generation of talent,” he said.

“At BAM, we are proud to support this initiative and look forward to seeing it contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s long-term badminton development.”

The LCWC will be held as a single-leg competition in its debut year and will be hosted in Kuala Lumpur.

ESG Focus and Broader Community Impact

Beyond competition, the Lee Chong Wei Cup will incorporate ESG initiatives.

Under its “Smash Green” environmental programme, the tournament will promote racket and shuttlecock upcycling. A “Badminton of Hope” social programme will focus on outreach, while an Anti-Bullying and Safe Sport Pledge forms part of its governance commitment under the “Play Fair, Play Proud” charter.

Organisers say the event aims to inspire young Malaysians through badminton, promote inclusion in sport, provide equal opportunity for all players and create a structured development platform.

 

Lee Chong Wei’s career record remains one of the most decorated in Malaysian sporting history. He held the world number one ranking for a record 349 weeks, including a 199-week consecutive run from 2008 to 2012, and captured 69 Badminton World Federation titles. He is also a triple Olympic silver medallist.

Now, instead of chasing titles himself, he is creating a platform designed to help others begin their journey.

Further details of the Lee Chong Wei Cup will be announced in the coming weeks.

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