PETALING JAYA: Former international Tan Chee Tean has been killed in a car crash in south of Brno, Czech Republic.



The 24-year-old doubles specialist was travelling to Austria during the accident on Sept 28 after competing at the Czech Open.



Chee Tean left the national team in February this year after a six-year stint where he finished runners-up twice – at the Bangladesh Open (with Tan Wee Gieen in men's doubles) and the Thailand International Challenge (Shevon Lai Jemie in mixed doubles) in 2015.



The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) said it was deeply saddened by the loss of their former player.



“I am extremely sad to learn of the passing of Chee Tean. He was a special young talent, capable of playing in both mixed doubles and men’s doubles," said BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria.



"His untimely demise is a huge loss not to only his family but also to the badminton fraternity.



“The thoughts of everyone at BAM are with his family and friends at this very difficult time," he said.