[Saba Sports News] The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 of Shanghai University of Sport was held recently. Chen Yufei, women’s singles badminton champion of the Tokyo Olympic Games, delivered a speech as a graduate representative. Born in Tonglu, Hangzhou in March 1998, Chen Yufei is an International Master of Sports and a member of the Chinese National Badminton Team. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Beijing Sport University and pursued postgraduate studies in the Champion Class at Shanghai University of Sport. It is reported that her postgraduate curriculum covers data analysis, sports training science and mental regulation. For a player like Chen Yufei, data analysis helps her pinpoint shortcomings efficiently, such as the distribution of points lost during receiving serves and the number of unnecessary shots in a single game. In terms of mental training, the courses teach practical skills directly applicable to competitions: how to maintain steady breathing amid noisy stadium environments, and how to deploy self-suggestion when fatigued from back-to-back matches.
The editor believes that it is clear that Chen Yufei regards academic study as another track of growth, forming a unique way of thinking outside regular training. All the knowledge she gains will ultimately be applied back on the court, guiding her shot selection and split-second movement. Only when she can translate theoretical models from class into on-court judgments can she truly pass this special course.