SINGAPORE: Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s wax figure was presented today at Madame Tussauds Singapore.

“We are proud to be chosen as the first Madame Tussauds to display Lee, one of this region’s best ever, right here in Singapore, where he will stand among giants in our very own Sports ‘Hall of Fame’,“ said its general manager, Steven Chung, on its website.

“Sports legends are extraordinary, larger-than-life individuals who have the unique ability to capture the hearts of fans and inspire the younger generation from around the world,” added Chung.

The wax replica of Lee will be on display at Madame Tussauds Singapore before returning to Madame Tussauds Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2023. Lee Chong Wei is a well-known name in Malaysia, and he is the first Malaysian athlete to be featured in Madame Tussauds.

His wax statue will appear alongside great football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.

According to the website, Lee earned his place in the badminton hall of fame with a record 349 weeks as the sport’s best player, including 199 straight weeks at the top. He has won 69 super series titles, and he has also been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador for Malaysia.

The website said that in November 2019, Lee underwent a six-hour “sitting” while the Madame Tussauds team painstakingly gathered over 200 measurements of the legendary athlete.

Lee donated his official jersey from his final Olympic performance in Rio 2016, which gave the wax figure an extra unique touch, according to the statement.

The website added a few images of Lee, including his unveiling of his wax figure at Madame Tussauds Singapore and his interaction with fans at the Fan Meet and Greet session. In the meantime, Lee expressed his excitement at being able to finally show his wax replica to people all over the world.

“A lot of time and effort has been put in by the team at Madame Tussauds. They have been so meticulous at their job recreating me and I am so grateful for this opportunity,” said Lee.

Malaysia Airlines and Firefly are the designated air carriers for this launch, said Madame Tussauds Singapore.

Fans who want to see Lee’s wax figure can do so by visiting Madame Tussauds Singapore’s website at www.madametussauds.com/singapore and purchasing attraction tickets before the wax figure jets off to Hong Kong for permanent display. – BERNAMA