The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) said Ahsan has re-injured his back, while Santoso was diagnosed with dengue fever last night and has been hospitalised.

"It's a disaster for us - what can I say," PBSI official Bambang Rudy Roedyanto admitted.

"We are leaving on Thursday (August 21) morning and we have no choice [but to withdraw them].

"They cannot play.

"It's the second time Ahsan has had lower back pain and it has gotten worse in the past few days while he has been training.

"He cannot even sit down properly now so, of course, he can't move well or jump-smash and the doctor says he should not go."

Simon Santoso is out of the Badminton World Championships after being hospitalised with dengue fever ©Getty Images



The injuries come as a further to blow to Indonesia following the earlier withdrawals of defending mixed doubles pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir due to an ankle injury that Ahmad suffered in June.

There will be no replacements for any of the three players as the draw for the World Championships has already been carried out.

Meanwhile, Santoso's last minute entry last week looked set to stand in the way of Malaysian two-time runner up Lee Chong Wei's quest for the men's singles world title, however, with five-time champion Lin Dan of China also absent at the tournament, the Indonesian's loss is Lee's gain as his pathway to gold now seems clear.

The Badminton World Championships will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark from Monday (August 25) to August 31.

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