KUALA LUMPUR – Former national badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei expressed his deep sympathy and support for Faisal Halim, who recently made his first public appearance following a traumatic acid attack.
Faisal, a Selangor FC player, suffered fourth-degree burns when an unidentified assailant attacked him with acid last month while he was out with his family at a shopping mall in Petaling Jaya.
The 26-year-old footballer has been away from the media spotlight since the incident, during which he underwent four surgeries, including a skin transplant, at a private hospital in Shah Alam.
From one Penangite to another, Chong Wei encouraged Faisal to stay strong and have faith.
“Be strong, Faisal. Everything happens for a reason. Allah has His reasons. You will be back even stronger.
“Be patient and believe. Focus on your recovery, and we wait for your return,” the 41-year-old wrote in a heartfelt social media post today.
Chong Wei is no stranger to physical adversity. In June 2019, he retired from badminton after being diagnosed with nose cancer.
Following his doctor’s advice to avoid high-intensity training to prevent a relapse, he ended his illustrious 19-year badminton career.
During a press conference yesterday at the Selangor FC training centre, Faisal revealed that he had considered quitting his lucrative football career after the gruesome incident, which has drastically altered his life.
He expressed deep concern for his family’s safety and spoke about his struggle with the decision. – June 14, 2024