Lee Chong Wei has ended his All-England quest after losing unexpectedly to B Sai Praneeth of India in the first round at Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham early today.

The national badminton ace - who is also ranked world number two - was looking to clinch his fourth title after winning it in the 2010, 2011 and 2014 championships.

He lost 22-24, 20-22 to his opponent - who is ranked 32 below him in the world standings.

Chong Wei, 33, had never failed to reach the finals since 2009 till 2014 and did not compete last year after being suspended for eight months for a doping offence.

Meanwhile, the win for 24-year-old Sai Praneeth was his first over Chong Wei after five encounters since May 2012. They last met at the quarter finals of the Canada Open in June, 2015.

Following Chong Wei's defeat, Malaysia no longer has any representative in the men's singles and are pinning its hopes on veterans Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in the men's doubles.

The challenge for national women's singles player Tee Jing Yee also ended in the first round after losing 11-21, 18-21 to Lindaweni Fanetri from Indonesia.

Mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying also fell 21-16, 17-21 to South Korea's Ko Sung Hyun-Kim Ha Na in the first round.

Malaysia did not send any representative for the women's doubles.

- Bernama