Men’s singles chief coach Hendrawan revealed Lee Zii Jia played Anders Antonsen with a bloody blister at their World Championships quarter-finals match.

Lee took the opening game 21-12, lost the second 8-21 and retired in the decider as he trailed 1-11 after 48 minutes as the pain became too much to bear.

Hendrawan said Lee came into the match against Antonsen with the nasty blister, after his victory over Hans-Kristian Vittinghus in the third round.

“His blister was already bleeding after he beat Vittinghus the day before. We tried to treat it, and Lee complained of pain the morning of his match against Antonsen. We taped and wrapped the blister to reduce the pain.

“He could still force himself to play through the first game, but couldn’t in the second. After the second game ended, the blister was bleeding again, and even though the doctors taped it up, the pain was unbearable. He tried his best,” said Hendrawan.

This was the third time Lee retired this season, having done so at the Hylo Open final and Indonesia Masters last month with a back injury.

Malaysia is nonetheless guaranteed a medal through Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, who dumped out reigning Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin 12-21, 21-17, 21-15 to make the semi-finals.

The independent pair now go on to face Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi for a place in the final.

The last Malaysian men’s doubles pair to make a World Championships final was Koo Kien Kiat-Tan Boon Heong back in 2010.

There was no medal reunion for Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, who failed in their bid to make the last four after they lost in straight games 20-22, 14-21 to China’s young pair He Ji Ting-Tan Qiang.

Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai were also easily beaten 15-21, 13-21 by Thailand’s second seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the mixed doubles.