Badminton: Lee falls just short of summit

Lee Chong Wei moved heaven and earth in his bid to win Malaysia's first Olympic gold medal yesterday – but in the end he could not quite conquer badminton's highest peak.

While China's Lin Dan wheeled away in ecstasy after sealing the men's singles gold, a distraught Lee slumped to the court, unable to believe he had the Chinese champion on the ropes and let him get away.

Malaysia's chef de mission Tun Ahmad Sarji said Lee had given his all in the 21-15, 10-21, 19-21 defeat.

"It is like climbing Mount Everest – Lee was one or two steps from the summit, that is all," he said.

Lee added: "There can only be one Lin Dan in the world."