SHENZHEN, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A group of Chinese badminton stars bid farewell to major competition at the 15th National Games, marking the end of an era for the sport.
After the 2024 Paris Olympics, He Bingjiao, Chen Qingchen, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong have stepped away from the national team. The ongoing Games have served as their formal goodbye to the court.
After losing her round-of-16 duel to long-time rival Chen Yufei, He bent down and kissed the court. "There is certainly sadness and reluctance," she said. "But when the final shuttle landed, what I felt more was relief."
He, silver medalist at Paris 2024, had already been gradually withdrawing from the international circuit. Her return to the National Games had one primary goal: to bid a proper farewell.
Chen praised her soon-to-retire rival as an "inspiration." "We grew up together, always teammates and opponents," Chen said. "Her love for badminton is something I will continue to learn from."
The careers of this generation of players, including He and Chen, are deeply intertwined. They are opponents, but more significantly, friends who grew up side-by-side.
A pivotal moment in their careers came at the 2017 Sudirman Cup. As veterans retired, players like He, Chen and Huang stepped up to shoulder leading roles. However, China lost 3-2 to South Korea in the final, missing out on a seventh consecutive title.
That defeat fueled their determination to improve. Two years later, they reclaimed the title on home soil and subsequently maintained their dominance.
In Paris, Zheng and Huang finally won Olympic gold in mixed doubles, while Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan triumphed in women's doubles. After achieving their goals, the two legendary pairs chose new paths.
At the National Games, Chen Qingchen paired with Cheng Xing in mixed doubles but they were eliminated in the second round. Chen had already announced her intention to retire after the competition.
"I don't regret this outcome. As long as I fought hard, there are no regrets," she said.
In contrast, Zheng and Huang, despite barely training for nearly a year, displayed their strength by storming into the final, with hopes of capping their careers with a gold medal on Thursday.
Having won almost every honor up for grabs, Zheng and Huang have prioritized family over the past year.
During his time away from the sport, Zheng appeared on various TV shows with his wife and child, and his son "Aiden" has become an internet celebrity, while Huang accepted a marriage proposal from Liu Yuchen in Paris.
For their last dance, Zheng and Huang committed to rigorous preparation, temporarily setting aside family life for a return.
The legendary pair expressed hopes that fans can enjoy their final match, stressing that "even though we are aiming for the championship, the journey itself is also important."
On their path to the final, Zheng and Huang had eliminated another veteran, Huang Dongping, who did not partner with her usual national team teammate Feng Yanzhe this time, instead teaming up with Ou Xuanyi.
The 30-year-old Dongping also hinted at her impending retirement. After each match, she made a point to hug and take photos with her teammate and opponents. During one match, she told Ou, "Let's take a few more photos. Each match brings us closer to the end."
Dongping will also compete in the women's doubles final with Tan Ning on Thursday.
The presence of these celebrated athletes made the badminton competition at the Games feel more like a tribute, with several stars breaking down in tears during interviews.
Speaking for those about to embark on a new path in life, He told Xinhua, "Athletes who choose to persist, like Chen Yufei, are truly brave. We will be leaving, but we hope everyone will continue to support the players who remain and Chinese badminton."
Talking about their retirement, she added, "We are often asked if we like the sport. Now, I can finally say with certainty, I really, really love badminton." ■
