Source:REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo
[Saba Sports News] In the Chinese badminton scene, Li Yongbo is a legendary figure. He led the Chinese badminton team for 24 years, nurturing stars like Lin Dan and Chen Long, and producing dozens of world champions, propelling the Chinese badminton team to the pinnacle of the world. However, few people know that his son, Li Gen, also followed in his father’s footsteps into the badminton world. Although he had some impressive performances, winning the team championship and an individual third place at the Badminton World Junior Championships, his limited talent meant he could never achieve a qualitative breakthrough and still lagged behind top contemporaries. He was unable to consistently stand on the highest podium in both domestic and international youth events.
What no one expected was that this 23-year-old who retired early without making a name for himself in badminton would unexpectedly cross over and succeed in a different field, surprising even Li Yongbo. After retiring, Li Gen did not rely on his father’s fame to coast through life; instead, he put down his badminton racket and started from scratch in the unfamiliar sports industry. The operations, management, investment, and competition in the sports industry are completely different from playing badminton, and succeeding without relevant experience is quite difficult. However, Li Gen applied the resilience he developed while playing badminton—working quietly and steadily. He began with basic tasks, gradually familiarized himself with industry rules, gained experience, and quickly found a breakthrough. He founded Beijing Longju Sports Co., Ltd. and serves as its chairman, focusing on sports event planning, organization, and sports brand operations. Thanks to Li Gen’s efforts, the company has been expanding steadily and his career is flourishing.