[Saba Sports News] As the 2026 Thomas Cup final got underway, Danish media outlet TV2 turned the spotlight on Chinese badminton star He Jiting, publishing a lengthy article titled Ousted from the national team amid swirling rumours — now the star tells his own story.
Roughly a year ago, news that Chinese men’s doubles star He Jiting had landed in serious trouble sent shockwaves through the entire badminton world. The player was alleged to have made vulgar and derogatory remarks towards his teammates and sports officials of the Chinese national badminton team. Meanwhile, there were also rumours that he was involved in gambling and placed bets on badminton matches. None of these rumours were ever officially confirmed, yet the consequences were plain to see. The Chinese Badminton Association decided to suspend He Jiting from the national team until the end of 2025. At that time, he and his partner Ren Xiangyu were as high as fifth in the world rankings. It was not until nine months after the incident that He Jiting made his return to the national team.
One thing is certain: in China, speaking disrespectfully to coaches, officials and teammates will result in a suspension. Regarding his comeback, He Jiting stated that the national team holds internal selection trials, and sports officials decide which players make the tournament roster based on performance. Thanks to his outstanding form, he eventually secured a spot on the 2026 Thomas Cup squad.
In the editor’s opinion, a comeback does not mean a full turnaround, nor does making the roster guarantee a stable position in the team. It will take time to prove whether He Jiting can maintain his solid form. Still, in May 2026 at the very least, he sealed a crucial victory, marking a dramatic turning point in his professional career.