Lee Chong Wei's final bid for an Olympic gold medal in his career ended when he lost to China's Chen Long in the men's singles final at the Pavilion 4, Riocentro, in Rio de Janeiro yesterday.

Chong Wei lost 21-18, 21-18 to the Chinese world number two in the 76-minute match, thus ending Malaysia's dream for a first gold medal in the country's Olympic history.

"I tried my best. It wasn't the way I was looking for to end my Olympics," said the teary-eyed Chong Wei.

He apologised to all Malaysians for not delivering the much awaited gold medal in the Olympics.

"I regret the defeat. I played my best, but Chen Long played better today," he said.

Chong Wei said that he was not nervous in the final, but regretted not meeting Lin Dan in the final as both players were bidding farewell after their fourth Olympics appearance.

The 33-year-old world number one demolished his nemesis Lin Dan of China in their semifinal, but once again another Chinese shuttler denied him the gold medal in his third Olympic final.

Chong Wei has ended his Olympic career with three silvers in a row. It is the first gold medal for Chen Long, after Lin Dan's two in in the 2008 Beijing and the 2012 London Olympics.

- Bernama