🏸 Chen Yufei, China's Olympic badminton queen, is gearing up to defend her gold medal at Paris 2024! But it's not just about the medals—she's battling her own mindset and fierce rivals on the court.
Since clinching gold at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Chen admits she's been in a bit of a comfort zone. \"I haven't been able to achieve any major breakthroughs since then,\" she told China Media Group (CMG). \"I've lost many matches by no more than two points. Those matches looked close, and I seemed to be working hard, but I just couldn't win. It had nothing to do with my stamina. I just lacked enough will to win.\"
Her coach, Luo Yigang, who has been leading China's women's singles squad for six years, shares his concerns. \"Chen wants to win her second gold in Paris, but I can feel that something has changed with her mindset,\" Luo said. \"She may not handle it well when difficulties grow too big for her. That's one of my concerns.\"
One of the biggest obstacles in Chen's path is An Se-young of the Republic of Korea, the World No. 1. \"An Se-young is one of the main opponents for us,\" Luo told CMG. \"She may not be as aggressive as she used to be before suffering an injury at the Asian Games, but no one has 100-percent confidence in beating An in a women's singles match, even after she slows down.\"
Chen respects her rival's game. \"I think An reads the match better than before and better than I do,\" she said. \"She understands the sport well. She always chooses the right tactics and reads her opponent's plays correctly. She knows exactly how to win the match.\"
Despite the challenges, Chen is determined to find her groove again. She aims not only to defend her title but also to rediscover her love for badminton. \"The key is to find a balance between staying confident and maintaining a relaxed mindset,\" she said.
With a squad boasting four of the top-eight players at the Badminton World Federation's Olympic qualification tournament, China's badminton team is a force to be reckoned with. Chen and He Bingjiao will represent China in the women's singles event, each bringing their unique skills to the court.
As the countdown to Paris continues, all eyes are on Chen Yufei. Can she overcome her inner doubts and the fierce competition to strike gold again? Stay tuned! ✨
Reference(s):
China's Olympic badminton gold medalist Chen Yufei fears no challenge
cgtn.com
