PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia — Former World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei has announced his retirement from badminton after 19 years following a battle with cancer.

The three-time Olympic silver medalist, hailed as a sporting hero in Malaysia, says it was a tough decision as he had planned to quit after the Tokyo Olympics next year but that he had no choice.

Lee, 36, said Thursday a recent consultation with doctors in Japan showed he wasn't fit for high-intensity training. He broke down momentarily during a news conference.

Lee became one of Malaysia's richest athletes after an illustrious career that included the Olympic medals and 69 world titles that has made him a much-loved sporting icon. He was diagnosed with nose cancer last year but recovered after intensive treatment.

Agencies