Source: EYEPRESS Images /F.L Wong
[Saba Sports News] On January 17, Liang Weikeng, the silver medalist in men’s doubles badminton at the Paris Olympics, revealed during a program that he faced unfair treatment while in the national team. Liang stated that although he had good results, he was not well-versed in social connections and was once kicked out of the provincial team, almost losing confidence in badminton. Records show that Liang joined the Guangdong provincial team in 2015 but was expelled in 2017. Additionally, Liang subtly expressed issues regarding the selection race. At that time, seven players participated in the selection, and the other six were selected, while he was eliminated. However, the combined results of those six players did not surpass his individual performance. It is reported that in 2020, Liang was demoted to China’s badminton second team. At that time, his original partner was injured, and the coach assigned him a partner who was not from the national first team; they then competed together in the team selection, with predictable results. The so-called Chinese badminton second team consists of talented but younger players who are temporarily unable to compete with adult players; they will transition within the second team until their skills and physical fitness mature before returning to the first team. Liang once considered going back to school if things did not work out. Despite enduring so much unfairness and grievance, he persevered until teaming up with Wang Chang, where they achieved mutual success and gradually reached the pinnacle, becoming silver medalists in men’s doubles badminton at the Paris Olympics.