Source:Oriental Image/Ling
[Saba Sports News] Chinese badminton women’s doubles pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan reached the semifinals of the World Tour Finals. Afterward, Chen released a lengthy statement expressing an open attitude toward retirement. She stated she would continue training but was uncertain about competing; at the same time, she hinted at stepping away from the badminton scene to pursue other interests. In her message, Chen expressed that she has always believed that only by putting in enough effort can one attain the strength to win championships. She noted that many comments described them as “geniuses,” and she wanted to clarify that those fans probably haven’t seen how they train; if they did, they would likely think they were crazy and almost living in the gym. Throughout their time in the team, their closest coaches, doctors, and fitness instructors have never referred to them as “geniuses,” as they have witnessed the hard work each player has put in since joining the national team until the end of their Olympic preparations. Chen revealed that her initial goal was the Paris Olympics. It was only by having a clear goal that she could sustain herself through numerous difficulties. She hadn’t anticipated that this Olympic champion journey would extend to participating in this finals, which was a delightful surprise. Now, she feels she can choose to do things that make her happy and is grateful for everyone’s support along the way.