Source: REUTERS/Issei Kato
[Saba Sports News] Recently, former Chinese badminton star Wang Zhengming announced on his social media platform that his wife gave birth to a second son. In the photo, 35-year-old Wang Zhengming took a selfie while lying on the hospital bed, his wife looked tired but smiling, and the newborn baby was sleeping peacefully with a rosy face. The warm scene of the three of them in the delivery room sparked discussions among fans. This Guangdong-born player, once considered the “successor to Badminton King” (Lin Dan), has had a legendary career. Born into a sports family, his father was a famous basketball coach in Zhanjiang, and his uncle was a dominant figure in the southern Guangxi badminton scene. At the age of 16, Wang Zhengming won both the Asian and World Junior Singles titles. In 2014, his world ranking reached sixth in men’s singles, defeating stars like Taufik Hidayat. However, one regret always lingered in his career — he lost all seven matches against Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei, which became an unshakable “inner struggle.” In 2016, at just 26 years old, Wang Zhengming suddenly announced his retirement, leaving fans heartbroken. According to insiders, long-term injuries and a performance plateau were the main reasons for his retirement.